against the rule of Christ's Church. There is no medium in this question. To separate is either a duty or a sin. That there is a Church, founded, and authorized, and spiritually governed by Christ himself, is as true as that Christ came into the world, and suffered and rose again. That he enjoined all his disciples to preserve the unity of his Church, is equally certain. What the precise limits of this Church are, and how they are to be described in words, may perhaps be questioned. We cannot attain absolute certainty in this, any more than we can in a thousand other questions of the gravest interest to mankind. But though we may hesitate to say what is not a Church-we are quite sure what is a Church. It is a fearful thing to leave a certain for an uncertain path. Reason, and duty, and selfpreservation all conspire in the conclusion, that when we know what is right, we are bound to follow it, and if we cannot reach the perfect pattern, that we are in all cases and under all circumstances to come as near to it as we

can.

Such appears to have been the opinion of the most eminent Reformers-even of those who established Churches without recognizing Bishops as a distinct and superior order. In the Augsburg Confession it is expressly said, that they earnestly desired to retain the order of Bishops, but that when none of that order would join them, they were compelled, against their wishes, to do without them. And Calvin's words are still more unequivocal:-"Talem si nobis hierarchiam exhibeant, in qua sic emineant Episcopi ut Christo subesse non recusent, ut ab illo tanquam unico capite pendeant, et ad ipsum referantur; in qua sic inter se fraternam societatem colant, ut non alio nodo, quam ejus veritate, sint colligati, tum vero nullo non anathemate dignos fatear si qui erunt, qui non eam reverenter summaque

obedientia observent."-De Necessitate Reformandæ Ecclesiæ. Ed. Amst. p. 60.

I am indebted for this passage to the Notes on Dr. (now Bishop) Russell's Sermon, preached at the consecration of the Right Reverend James Walker, Bishop in the Scottish Episcopal Church, in 1830. To this Sermon, and to its valuable Appendix, I would refer any one who wishes to see the argument for the apostolical institution of Episcopacy exhibited in the clearest and most compendious form, supported by the best historical evidence, and maintained throughout with candour, moderation, and charity.

To this Appendix I am also indebted for the passage from Augustin, quoted in page 19.

There is another treatise which I cannot but recommend, as placing in a just and forcible light the duty (not the right) of exercising private judgment in disputed questions of religion,—a duty which all men should practise according to their measure of learning or ability, but with a due sense of the risk they run, in trusting to their own judgment, when it differs from the general and uninterrupted doctrine of the Christian Church: I mean a Sermon preached before the University of Oxford, Nov. 11. 1838, by the Rev. Dr. Hawkins, Provost of Oriel.

B.

"More distant claimants.”—Page 23.

The claim here made in behalf of the colonies, applies with double force to the case of those districts in our own country where a similar want is felt. That in some mining and manufacturing districts this want exists to an excessive

degree, is notorious. In a few parishes of my own diocese, there are some of the strongest examples, such as Bedwelty, Merthyr-Tidvil, Trevethin, Aberystruth, and a few others, which were, within living memory, either thinly-peopled rural parishes or uninhabited wastes, but are now swarming with population. Had this population increased gradually through a succession of ages, the claim upon those who employ them, although equally well-founded, would not have been so striking or apparent. But the fact is, that myriads are collected and settled on these spots within the compass of a few years, for the benefit of individuals who derive enormous wealth annually from their labours. The provision made for their religious instruction and spiritual comfort bears no proportion to the demand. Not one-fiftieth part of the recently collected population is admissible within the walls of a Church. A few individuals only, of those on whom the claim justly lies, have hitherto done any thing towards a remedy for this monstrous evil. But I rejoice in the prospect which is at length opened of better things. A conspicuous example has lately been set by a new formed company, in whose employment many thousands have already been settled on what was a few years ago a solitary desert. The Directors of the Company are not only engaged in providing a Church with a competent endowment for the spiritual care of this people, but they have proclaimed in a solemn form their conviction of the obligation they lie under as Christians, to make this provision: and the great body of Proprietors have adopted the resolution and authorized its execution.

As Bishop of the Diocese, I here make my thankful acknowledgments to the Directors and Proprietors of the Rhymney Iron Company, for this noble declaration of their sentiments, and for the weight of their authority and example thus added to the cause of true religion.

C

The document which they have published will speak for itself. May it awaken a corresponding sense of duty in all who read it!

Report presented at the Annual General Meeting of the Proprietors of the Rhymney Iron Company, held on the 21st November 1838.

THE DIRECTORS OF THE RHYMNEY IRON COMPANY having taken into their serious consideration the opinion so generally expressed, at the last General Meeting of the Proprietors, that a CHURCH according to the laws of the established Church of England, and SCHOOLS for the education of the children of persons in the employ of the Company, should be provided,

Report, that they entirely concur in the opinion then expressed, and that with a view to promote an object not less their duty than their interest, they have had communications with the Marquess of Bute, Mr. Stacey, the Rector of Gelly Gaer, and other parties interested, and after fully considering that the Company having caused to locate on what were before almost barren mountains, a population of 8000 souls, and that number increasing daily, and nearly the whole of that population residing on the freehold property of the Company, in the parish of Bedwelty, in Monmouthshire, at a distance of nearly five miles from the parish Church, the directors beg leave to express their unanimous opinion, that the Company are upon every principle, moral and religious, bound to provide and endow a Church, for the use of the tenants of the Rhymney Iron Company, and others, and they recommend the Proprietors to authorise the Trustees of the Company, to convey in such manner as may be advised, so much of the freehold land of the Company as

shall be necessary, for the purposes of a Church, churchyard, and Minister's house and garden, and they recommend for the endowment of the same, that the Proprietors should authorize and order the Directors of the Company, from the funds of profits unappropriated in their hands, to invest in the years 1839 and 1840, so much money as will in these two years, purchase the sum of £2000, 3 per cent. consols, and £2000, 3 per cent. reduced, or such other securities of equal amount of income, in conformity with the regulations required by law for the endowment of Churches, to be for ever appointed for the maintenance of the Minister, and the repairs of the said Church.

And the Directors further recommend, that the Proprietors allow a subscription to be solicited from the public and private funds applicable to church building purposes, from the Marquess of Bute, the Proprietors, and all other well-disposed persons, for the means of providing the funds necessary for building the said proposed Church and parsonage-house.

The Directors consider the establishing of schools as a matter most essentially desirable, and although they would expect from any Clergyman who may have the appointment, an active and zealous co-operation in their management, they would consider the schools a property apart from the Church, and retain in their sole power the appointment and dismissal of masters and mistresses.

They do therefore recommend the Proprietors to allow them to allot so much of the estate as may be found necessary for the purposes of the schools, and that such sums as may be necessary for building the same and their appendages, may be taken at the discretion of the Directors from the funds of the Company for such purpose, and that all regulations for the creation and management of the schools,