On what principle the Editor of the Record remains a Churchman it is not easy to discover. With the opinions of Mr. Binney, he wants the consistency of that eminent Christian. If the majority of the Church be what the Editor of the Record describes them, it is surely his duty to make haste out of Babylon.

When a person like the Editor of the Record sets up his opinion in opposition to that of the Bishops of the Church, his ignorance of his subject follows as a matter of course; yet, even with the presumption so strong as it is, we could scarcely have credited the intensity of this ignorance, had it not been "recorded" in his own words. Nothing can be more notorious than that, on the two points which he mentions as dividing the Church into parties as opposite as the poles (the subjects of justification and holiness)—there is not a shadow of difference between Calvinists and Arminians; (using those names in the popular sense.) The substantial difference between those bodies is confined to the question of predestination and the nature of baptism; for as to the degree of participation in public amusements, &c. &c. this and like matters cannot be alleged as serious differences; neither are they altogether the differences of a party, but rather of individuals.

It is curious enough to contrast the language of the Bishop of Calcutta relative to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel with that of the Editor of the Record. We know not whether the Right Reverend Prelate has now the misfortune to be considered by this eminent writer among the members ignorant of the gospel they profess to teach; but time was when we think he would have been authority to the Editor of the Record. Time was when we felt it our painful duty to censure much of his proceedings, as evincing too much of that spirit of party for which the Record is so transcendently distinguished above all aspirants. It is with the greatest pleasure that we afford this incidental testimony to the improvement evinced in all his conduct since his elevation; and we trust, that, under Providence, he may long be preserved to be a blessing to the Church in India. Thus, however, speaks the Bishop:

"At the distance of more than half the globe, my sacred functions impose on me many painful sacrifices, which nothing can so much tend to relieve as the affectionate confidence of your INCORPORATED SOCIETY, the oldest of the Protestant Mission bodies in India, and THE MOST SIGNALLY SUCCESSFUL; and well capable of taking a fresh and vigorous spring, and starting off in a new career of sacred enterprise. Amongst all the means of propagating Christianity which are entitled to my support and none fail of some claims to it-the venerable INCORPORATED SOIETY may rely upon my FIRST and WARMEST cooperation, to the full extent of the instruments with which she furnishes me, and the character and PIETY of the men whom she sends out."

Here we have the Bishop of Calcutta telling us that the Incorporated Society is the most signally successful of all the societies in propagating the gospel among the heathen. He writes from what passes beneath his own eyes. But the Editor of the Record, writing in Red Lion Court, assures us that all this is pure mistake, and the conductors of

* Report of the Society for Propagating the Gospel. 1833.

the Society are so little capable of propagating the gospel, that they need to be lectured by him in what the gospel is. The Bishop of Calcutta, who knows well the Society's Missionaries, speaks of their "character and piety;" the Editor of the Record, who probably never saw one of them in his life, tells us that they are such monsters that any evangelical person would sooner die than appoint one of them to a curacy.* "Utri creditis, Quirites ?"

Not contented with abusing the two venerable Church Societies, the gifted editor proceeds to attack the Bishop of Barbados. We are not about to insult that exemplary prelate by volunteering his defence against such a writer. Could any apology for him be necessary, it has been made from a quarter whence the calumniator little expected it. The assaults on the old Societies were made, ostensibly, with a view to bring the Church Missionaries in triumph over the ruins of their predecessors' reputation. But the honourable-minded patrons of the latter Society had resolved to desert it if it should prove in any degree responsible for these calumnies; and the heads of the Society saw the necessity of openly disclaiming all connexion with the slander and the slanderer. They have done so, and done it nobly; and a more complete humiliation it is impossible to conceive than that of the unfortunate libeller, when he was obliged to insert in his newspaper of February 2d, the following advertisement:

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

"At a special meeting of the Committee of the Church Missionary Society, held at the Society's house on the 27th ult. the following Resolution was adopted:

"That the Committee desire to record their unfeigned sorrow at the remarks which have been recently made in the Record newspaper, reflecting on the conduct of the Lord Bishop of Barbados, in reference to the arrangements which have been the subject of communication between his Lordship and themselves, with a view to the extension of the Society's operations in the diocese of Barbados; and that the Committee are most anxious to convey to his Lordship the expression of their sympathy, under IMPUTATIONS SO UNWARRANTABLY MADE, and of their hope that the statement relative to the Society's proceedings in the West Indies, which was last month inserted in their official organ The Church Missionary Record, placing the facts of the case before the members of the Society, and which has, by an anonymous channel, been inserted in the Record newspaper, has shewn to the public at large the INACCURACY of the remarks in that newspaper, and so far has counteracted the MISSTATEMENTS referred to.

Here we leave the Editor of the Record. Lower we cannot leave him. We are rejoiced at the opportunity his ignorance and malice have

"We are persuaded, as it respects the vast majority of them (the Record's clerical readers,) we may reply with confidence they would shudder to do so (appoint one of the Society's Missionaries to a curacy) that they durst not do it; that many of them would die first.”—Record.

afforded of showing that there is no real disunion in the Church, whatever individual nominal Churchmen may do to promote dissension. To the Church Missionary Society the learned editor made his appeal— to them he looked to back his calumnies, falsehoods, and distortionsand here is their reply. Whither shall he go now to represent the Church a mass of corruption, with the exception of the enlightened few who think with him? We recommend the King's Weighhouse, where he will find a Christianity and a charity quite according to his own notions.

And now a word to Churchmen in general. Let exposures like these of enemies in the camp shew the growing necessity of unity and peace. Churchmen, like other men, will never be able to agree in all things as long as they "see through a glass, darkly :" but in one thing they may and must agree-the defence of their common faith; for in this they are commanded to be "all of one mind." Whoever he be who would cast firebrands among us, let him call himself High Church, or Evangelical, or what he pleases, let the indignation of all true Churchmen devote him to instant infamy. Temperate discussion, conducted in a christian spirit, is acceptable to Him who will have all men come to the knowledge of the truth; but let us learn to distinguish between the substance of Christianity, and those deeper things which are rather intimated than revealed; and, above all things, let us put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

TO HIS MAJESTY THE KING.

SIRE, I TRUST there will be nothing inconsistent with that profound veneration and respect which every loyal Englishman must feel to your Majesty's crown and person, if one who trusts he cannot be surpassed in his attachment to either, should venture to address your Majesty thus publicly, through the medium of a periodical which has always been eminently distinguished for its loyalty to the throne and its devotion to the altar.

Your Majesty, Sire, has been called by Providence to your august office in a troublous time; when the enemies of Christ's holy gospel, however widely differing from each other, have banded themselves in one common cause—the destruction of that Church which your Majesty has sworn to uphold and defend. The Infidel who believes nothing, the Papist who believes every thing, and the Sectarians who believe any thing, are found beside each other in the ranks of her assailants. To your Majesty, as the head of our Church Establishment, the eyes of all her members are anxiously directed.

Your Majesty's paternal goodness, Sire, has not left us to infer your sentiments from uncertain induction. Your words and actions have been express. Your Majesty's declaration to the Bishops of our Church must ever live in grateful memory. Your Majesty, by calling to your councils men who are resolved to uphold and to purify the Church, has given a public proof of your gracious intentions. And

your loyal and religious people have received no small gratification from the following passage of your Majesty's reply to the address of your faithful Convocation: "I derive Great SATISFACTION FROM THE

ASSURANCE WHICH YOU HAVE GIVEN ME OF YOUR ZEALOUS COOPERATION IN THE MEASURES WHICH I HAVE DIRECTED WITH A VIEW TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR ECCLESIASTICAL SYSTEM."

On this your Majesty's gracious declaration, I most humbly solicit permission to offer to your Majesty a few remarks, which, albeit proceeding from an obscure individual, may not, on that account, be the less grounded on truth, or the less worthy the consideration even of your Majesty.

OF

I most respectfully therefore submit to your Majesty that there is only one way in which the Convocation can cooperate with your Majesty in your gracious designs for the improvement of our ecclesiastical system: and that is, BY BEING SUMMONED FOR DISPATCH BUSINESS. Such an act of your Majesty's paternal care would be joyfully welcomed by great numbers of loyal Churchmen, who yet would scruple to address your Majesty in favour of an alteration (as they would conceive) in our ecclesiastical polity, too great to be hoped for at your Majesty's hands.

The measure, however, would not, in fact, be an alteration. It would be a simple return to the ancient and unabrogated rights of the Church; and, even were it otherwise, I am persuaded that your Majesty would act according to your own persuasion of what was best, uninfluenced by any consideration of inferior weight. Your Majesty has appointed a "Church Commission," to prepare materials for some important measures. In your faithful Convocation, however, your Majesty already possesses the most extensive means of attaining your object; and by nothing could the Church Commission be more effectively assisted than by the deliberations of that venerable body.

But I would further most humbly submit to your Majesty that no measures for the good of the Church can prove permanently beneficial without a Convocation to apply them as needed from time to time. No corporate body of whatever description, it is manifest from universal experience, can be conducted without a council to watch over its interests. There is not in the whole world a church, a sect, which is destitute of such a council, except the Church of England. In pleading for the revival of the functions of Convocation, I am only asking for the Church of England what every other religious society possesses. Many of the abuses which it will be the object of your Majesty's government to reform would never have had any existence, if the Convocation had been allowed its privileges; and many of those provisions which your Majesty's responsible advisers may deem it right to make for the future benefit of the Church, will fail of their intent for want of an authority to apply them, or must be applied by authority which Churchmen cannot regard without a natural and constitutional jealousy. The Houses of Parliament, Sire, have experienced great alterations in their constitution since the privileges of the Convocation were first practically suspended by your Majesty's royal predecessor, King George I. At that time they were exclusively composed of members of the Church of England: whereas now there is no law to

prevent them from being exclusively composed of its enemies. The Roman Catholic members do indeed take an oath not to use their parliamentary power to the injury of the Church; but it cannot be expected that they will use it for the benefit of our ecclesiastical institutions; and it is but too plain that they have interpretations of their oath widely different from the animus imponentium, and, indeed, from the plain grammatical construction. The Clergy of England are, besides, the only teachers of religion excluded from the House of Commons, while they are at the same time also the only teachers of religion who have not a council of their own.

These disadvantages may be redressed at once safely, quietly, beneficially, and constitutionally, by the simple revival of a right which ought never to have been suspended. When I term the functions of Convocation a right, I feel that I am perfectly sanctioned, even by the present practice. Your Majesty, by receiving the address of the Convocation, does, in fact, acknowledge its right to assemble, and its right to debate is only suspended by an exercise of the royal prerogative. That this prerogative should not always be exercised, is all that is asked. That your Majesty would take the opinion of your Convocation on matters intimately affecting the individual members and their Church and constituents, is the prayer I would venture to express.

I venture:-however humble-however unsupported. That I am humble, will not I am sure prejudice my cause in the eyes of your Majesty. As your Majesty's subject, I shall, I know, experience your kind attention and regard. If unsupported, this circumstance shall not deter me from what I cannot but consider my duty-respectfully to invite the attention of my sovereign to this important topic. But I trust I shall not be unsupported-I trust that the view I take of this question is also taken by a large portion of my fellow-subjects and fellow-churchmen; and that they will, in a voice of more influence, convey their sentiments to the throne.

That your Majesty may long preside over a grateful Church and people is the earnest prayer of your Majesty's loyal subject and faithful servant, PRESBYTER ANGLICANUS.

DR. PYE SMITH A.D. 1834, versus DR. PYE SMITH, A.D. 1835.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CHRISTIAN REMEMBRANCER.

SIR,-Though I feel no inclination to engage in the kind of controversy provoked by Dr. Pye Smith, I cannot avoid noticing the inconsistency of his opinion of Churchmen, as expressed last year in his sermon "On the Necessity of Religion to the well-being of a Nation," with his strongly-expressed approbation of Binney's sweeping denunciation of the Church, as destroying more souls than it saves. "Those whom God honours, let us delight to honour. I must profess my opinion, that the increase of vital piety in the Established Church within the last thirty or forty years, has been greater than among us." Quoted from Dr. Pye Smith's Sermon, in the London Packet, Dec. 15, 1834. What degree of accuracy may be imputed to the statistical view of the relative numbers of Churchmen and Dissenters in the 203 selected