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above stated, and even under the least advantageous circumstances. But if several months more should be found requisite, you will surely have no reason to think your talents and labours ill applied; whether you consider the dignity and importance of the office to which you aspire; the comparative time and industry which are given to the other learned professions, and are necessary to a proficiency in elegant arts, or even vulgar trades; orlastly, the substantial improvement of your mind, by an acquaintance with many collateral branches of learning, as well as with that particular kind of knowledge, which claims the attention of every scholar, and is, truly, in some degree or other, the "one needful" study of all mankind.

As through your whole preparation, so particularly at the season immediately preceding your ordination, you will be frequent in your prayers to God, for his grace to confirm you in your good intentions, and to prosper your endeavours. At this time read with great deliberation and attention the ordination service for deacon and priest: the latter as well as the former for two reasons. One reason, because, if you are immediately entrusted, as it sometimes happens, with the care of a parish, you undertake much of the duty and responsibility of a priest, though you are not yet bound by his specific vows, nor empowered to exercise his characteristic functions. The other reason, because when you are about to pass the threshold of the sanctuary, whence it will not savour much of religion or good faith, or respect for the laws of your national Church,* to go back, it is prudent to enquire and consider what will be your engagements, when you shall come to be admitted into the inner court.

One of the best companions and comments to these offices will be Bishop Burnet on the pastoral care; the sixth chapter in particular. You will add Archbishop Secker's charge to the diocese of Canterbury in 1766, and Bishop Fleetwood's charge to the diocese of Ely in 1722.

Now, or at any other season of more leisure, you may read Chrysostom de Sacerdotio: who, though speaking of other times, and principally of a higher order in the Church, may yet afford some useful hints, and matter of consideration, to a parochial minister of the present day. This noted book will also give you a taste of the style of this eminent writer, and some idea of the customs and manners of his age. Of his style, you have a good specimen in his character of St. Paul, (IV. 6. p. 182. Ed. Hughes) and in his illustration of the Christian warfare. (VI. 12. p. 266.)

* See Canon 76.

POETRY.

MING

THE COUNSELS OF REDEEMING LOVE.

1. THE Eternal speaks-all Heaven attends;
Who that unhappy race defends,
While justice aims the blow?
See nature tremble at their fates;
Death with his iron sceptre waits;

Hell opes her adamantine gates,
And triumphs at their woe.

2. Which of the bright celestial throng,
With love so warm and heart so strong,
Dares languish on a cross?

Who can leave liberty for chains,
Abandon extacy for pains;
What Angel fortitude sustains
The inestimable loss.

3. He said and death-like silence reign'd;
Deep was their awe; the radiant band
The mighty task declin'd:

At once, Heaven's Prince the silence broke,
And, ardent, thus the sire bespoke-
"None but thy Son can ward the stroke;
Then let the task be mine.

4. Mine be the feeble infant state;
Mine, in return for love, be hate;
A manger be my throne!

Pain, when thy glory calls, is bliss;
When man's in danger, torture's peace-
Shame praise-a Paradise the abyss-
Then yield thy darling son.'

5. The Almighty radiance smil'd assent;
Loud was the shout that ether rent;
All Heaven was in amaze.
Go my lov'd image, said the sire,
Be born in anguish to expire.
Earth, triumph-Angels, strike the lyre
To everlasting praise.

A HYMN FOR EASTER.

YES, the Redeemer rose,

The Saviour left the dead,

And o'er his hellish foes

High rais'd his conquering head.
In wild dismay,

The guards around
Fall to the ground,
And sink away.

Lo, the angelic bands

In full assembly meet,
To wait his high commands
And worship at his feet.
Joyful they come,
And wing their way
From realms of day,
To Jesus' tomb.

Then back to Heaven they fly,
The joyful news to bear;
Hark! as they soar on high,
What music fills the air!

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ON THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE DEITY.
FLY, vain presumption! fly; nor rashly dare
To tax creative wisdom's power divine;
To arraign, in impious pride, that guardian care,
Those mercies, which throughout creation shine.
Say, man, can thine împartial eye
One blot in all his ways descry?
Can aught imperfect in his words appear?
Is there, between thy God and thee,
One rigorous, one unjust decree?
Profaneness can't assert it without fear.
Say, can that source impurity possess
From whence must issue all our happiness?
Can e'er injustice, with unhallow'd feet,
Attempt to approach that holy judgment seat,
Where truth's bright essence hath eternal shone,
And mercy beam'd transcendant from her throne?
The Almighty Sovereign since the world began,
In perfect goodness hath his laws ordain'd;
Abundant tokens hath display'd to man
Of love celestial, pure and unrestrain'd;
Of wisdom, whose extent to find®
Surpasseth far the finite mind-
Wisdom as universal as his pow'r.
Enthron'd in majesty on high,
He hears seraphic symphony,

His boundless grace and noble acts adore.
There God, in his supremacy reveal'd,
Developes what his wisdom hath conceal'd
From mortals' sight; yet let not mortals blame
The omniscient mind, but to their Maker's name
Be glory, praise, and adoration given
By men on earth, and perfect saints in Heaven!

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

WITH this number we commence the publication of Original Documents and Letters, which will exhibit a pretty full view of the progress and issue of a negociation, important to the welfare of the Episcopal Church in this country; which of course must be read with interest by all her real friends. An American Episcopate, it is known, was a favourite object with many, both here and in England, long before the political separation of the two countries. But obstacles were in the way, arising from the connection between the Episcopal office and the civil state in Great-Britain. Nor were those obstacles altogether removed by the dismemberment of the States from the mother country; but were left for Bishop Seabury to combat; for which task few men were ever better qualified. By him they were finally surmounted; for it must be admitted that his application to the Scotch Bishops opened the door for the subsequent consecrations in England; and thus the Church was completely organized. So much time has now elapsed that very few, it is believed, of our readers, are in any measure acquainted with the length of the negociation, and the exertions that were made by Bishop

Seabury and the Clergy in Connecticut, to accomplish so desirable an object: We therefore insert these documents in full confidence that they will be acceptable.

MY LORD,

שרדו

[No. 1.]

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LETTER TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK...

-NEW-YORK, APRIL 21, 1783.

THE Clergy of Connecticut, deeply impressed with anxious apprehension of what may be the fate of the Church in America, under the present changes of empire and policy, beg leave to embrace the earliest moment in their power to address your Grace on that important subject.

This part of America is at length dismembered from the British Empire; but, notwithstanding the dissolution of our civil connection with the parent state, we still hope to retain the religious polity; the primitive and evangelical doctrine and discipline, which, at the reformation, were restored and established in the Church of England. To render that polity complete, and to provide for its perpetuity in this country, by the establishment of an American Episcopate, has long been an object of anxious concern to us, and to many of our brethren in other parts of this continent. The attainment of this object appears to have been hitherto obstructed by considerations of a political nature, which we conceive were founded in groundless jealousies and misapprehensions that can no longer be supposed to exist: and therefore, whatever may be the effect of independency on this country, in other respects, we presume it will be allowed to open a door for renewing an application to the spiritual governors of the Church on this head; an application which we consider as not only seasonable, but more than ever necessary at this time; because if it be now any longer neglected, there is reason to apprehend that a plan of a very extraordinary nature, lately formed and published in Philadelphia, may be carried into execution. This plan is, in brief, to constitute a nominal Episcopate by the united suffrages of presbyters and laymen. The peculiar situation of the Episcopal Churches in America, and the necessity of adopting some speedy remedy for the want of a regular Episcopate, are offered, in the publication here alluded to, as reasons fully sufficient to justify the scheme. Whatever influence this project may have on the minds of the ignorant or unprincipled part of the laity, or however it may, possibly, be countenanced by some of the clergy in other parts of the country; we think it our duty to reject such a spurious substitute for Episcopacy, and, as far as may be in our power, to prevent its taking effect.

To lay the foundation, therefore, for a valid and regular Episcopate in America, we earnestly entreat your Grace, that, in your Archi-Episcopal character, you will espouse the cause of our sinking Church; and, at this important crisis, afford her that relief on which her very existence depends, by consecrating a Bishop for Connecticut. The person, whom we have prevailed upon to offer himself to your Grace for that purpose, is the Reverend Doctor

Samuel Seabury, who has been the society's worthy Missionary for many years. He was born and educated in Connecticut-he is personally known to us and we believe him to be every way qualified for the Episcopal Office, and for the discharge of those duties peculiar to it, in the present trying and dangerous times.

All the weighty considerations which concur to enforce our request, are well known to your Grace: we therefore forbear to en. large, lest we should seem to distrust your Grace's zeal in a cause of such acknowledged importance to the interests of religion. Suffer us then to rest in humble confidence that your Grace will hear and grant our petition, and give us the consolation of receiving, through a clear and uninterrupted channel, an Overseer in this part of the household of God.

That God may continue your life and health, make you in his Providence an eminent instrument of great and extensive usefulness to mankind in general, a lasting blessing to the Church over which you preside in particular; and that the present and future sons of the Church in America may have cause to record and perpetuate your name as their friend and spiritual father, and, when your sacred work is ended, that you may find it gloriously rewarded, is and shall be the devout prayer of the Clergy of Connecticut, by whose order (in convention assembled) and in whose behalf this letter is addressed to your Grace by your Grace's most obedient, humble servant, ABRAHAM JARVIS, Minister of the Episcopal Church in Middletown, and Secretary to the Convention.

(Signed)

[No. II.]

TESTIMONIAL.

WHEREAS our well beloved in Christ, Samuel Seabury, Doctor of Divinity, and missionary of Staten-Island in this Province, is about to embark for England, at the earnest request of the Episcopal Clergy of Connecticut, and for the purpose of presenting himself a candidate for the sacred office of a Bishop; and that when consecrated and admitted to the said office, he may return to Connecticut, and there exercise the spiritual powers, and discharge the duties which are peculiar to the Episcopal character, among the members of the Church of England, by superintending the Clergy, ordaining candidates for holy orders, and confirming such of the Laity as may chuse to be confirmed.-We the subscribers, desirous to testify our hearty concurrence in this measure, and promote its success; as well as to declare the high opinion we justly entertain of Doctor Seabury's learning, abilities, prudence and zeal for religion, do hereby certify, that we have been personally and intimately acquainted with the said Doctor Seabury for many years past-that we believe him to be every way qualified for the sacred office of a Bishop; the several duties of which office, we are firmly persuaded, he will discharge with honour, dignity and fidelity, and consequently with advantage to the Church

of God.

And we cannot forbear to express our most earnest wish that

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