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mankind, and more of the detail of ful. The call upon our church to en

their office, than by any other means. What though the reward be small--be nothing! do they forget that future kingdom of which they are the he ralds; and those future glories which they themselves announce ? Or are they unmindful what lustre there is in that crown, which shall encircle his head, who saves a soul from death? O let not then the mixture of worldly motives or interested views, either detract from its value, or dim its brilliancy.

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But let me conclude with the words of a prelate, whose works I hope are much studied by those to whom my remarks are addressed.

"There is no greater charity in the world than to save a soul: nothing that pleases God better, nothing that can be in our hands greater or more noble, nothing that can be a more last ing and delightful honour, than that a perishing soul, snatched from the flames of an intolerable hell, and borne to heaven on the wings of piety and mercy by the ministry of angels, and the graces of the Holy Spirit, shall to eternal ages bless God and bless thee Him, for the Author and Finisher of salvation; and thee for the minister and charitable instrument. That bright star must needs look pleasantly upon thy face for ever, which was by thy hand placed there, and, had it not been for thy ministry, might have ever been a sooty coal in the regions of

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gage zealously in this cause is, at the present time, peculiarly urgent. From almost every quarter, both in our own country and abroad, the cry reaches our ears, "Come over and help us." The recent application from the diocese of Ohio, furnishes a specimen of the assistance that is greatly needed in many a desolate portion of the church. In this instance, some help has been afforded. Some contributions have been made towards the relief of those who hunger and thirst for the bread and the waters of life. But, we may still ask, what are these among so many wants as are to be supplied? More, much more, remains to be done or many, whom it is in our power to furnish with the means of salvation, must continue destitute of those means. It is not enough, that we make one or two contributions for this object. There must be a regular system of operations, so that the wants of different places may be searched out, and those that are the most pressing, supplied.

It is not in Ohio alone, that portions of the church are suffering for the want of assistance. In our very neighbourhood, there are churches that have long languished, and are almost ready to expire, but which might be revived by a little missionary aid. Very recently, an application was made from a neighbouring state, for assistance in a case which promised peculiar benefits. And to show that there was nothing sectarian in the objects of the application, it may be stated, that it was made by a person who is not himself a memSome ber of the episcopal church. assistance was rendered; and it was received in such a manner as to be peculiarly gratifying to those who were concerned in it, and to show that much good might be done, could more extensive aid be afforded. How long must such applications be turned aside, because we have no means of helping them? How long must the

destitute look to other denominations for aid, because we have nothing to give them? Surely, "it is high time for us to awake out of our sleep," and come up to the help of the Lord.

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Besides the wants of our own countrymen, those of the heathen world ought never to be forgotten. Are we never to take our stand among the Christians of the old world and the new, who are engaged in the glorious work of spreading the knowledge of that good news of great joy which shall be to all people?" It seems to me, that we have no right to expect, either the growth of religion in our hearts, or the prosperity of the church about us, until we do something towards carrying the benefits of that religion to others. Shall we daily pray, Thy kingdom come," in words which have come from the mouth of every Christian, from the days of our Saviour until the present time, and not lift a finger to aid in the extension of that kingdom? Why then shall we not fear, that we shall be among the number of those, to whom the address is made, Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say?"

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I shall be told that the church is still feeble in our land, and its members exhausted by frequent demands upon them. Some have expended much in building churches; others are oppressed with the difficulty of furnishing a support to their own minister. I do not undervalue the exertions of those who have thus laboured to build up the church among us. I rejoice in seeing these fruits of their labours. But let, me exhort them not to stay their hands, from the work, while so much remains to be done. Where is the man who has done so much, that he cannot do something more, without feeling it as a burden upon himself or his family? Where is the man who has diminished aught, I will not say from his comforts, but from his luxuries, that he might, cast it into the treasury of the Lord?

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Were every member of our church to give a sum, which would be regarded as a trifle if it were expended on the pleasures or vanities of the world, it would supply the means that should make glad many a desolate portion of the vineyard of the Lord. And is it by giving such a pittance, that the want of it is not even felt by us, that we are to show our readiness to forsake houses and lands, for the sake of that Saviour who died for our redemption? Is this the sacrifice that we are prompted to make, by our love to him who laid down his life a ransom for us all?

We are told of the Christians in the days of the apostles, that "neither said any of them that aught of the things that he possessed was his own." We are not indeed required, in the present age of the world, and the present state of society, to have a community of goods. But surely something of that spirit and disposition of mind, which prompted them to lay down all at the apostles' feet, ought to be found among us. We expect of the missionary who goes abroad among the heathen, that he should partake largely of this spirit. He is called upon to leave, not only houses and lands, but kindred, and friends, and country, for the sake of Christ and his gospel. Why then should not we, who remain at home, surrounded by friends, and by the comforts and luxuries of life, why should not we impart freely of our substance, even although we were to be obliged, by so doing, to fare less sumptuously every day, or to make some sacrifice of vanity or ostentation? Our divine Master, when on earth, had not where to lay his head; and cannot we, who repose on beds of down, spare something for his service, when he calls upon us to aid in extending to others those heavenly blessings which he has imparted so freely to us? It was enough for his disciples to say to the owner of the ass, though a stranger, "the Lord hath need of hius" and straightway he sent

him. Shall those who profess to be followers of Christ be less willing to surrender their property at his call?

After all, it is but returning to the Lord a small portion of the abundance with which he has blessed us. "Of thine own have we given thee," will be the language of every Christian, as he contributes to the spreading of the gospel. Our property, as well as our lives and our talents, is but lent us, that it may be employed in the service of him from whom we receive it; and to him must an account be rendered of the manner in which it is employed. Ah! what will that account be, if we spend it only in contributing to the gratification of worldly pleasures, or in procuring worldly honours?

the direction of the society, or by combining with other societies. But it has no funds, and such has been the lukewarmness of the members of the church on this subject, that six years and a half have been suffered to pass away, since the incorporation of the society, with scarcely an effort to raise them. There is now a prospect that a small sum will soon be obtained, from a legacy which was left for missionary purposes. But unless this is increased by the contributions of others, nothing effectual can be accomplished.

There is little doubt that in regard to foreign missions, at least, this society will be disposed to become auxiliary to that recently established by the general convention of the protestant episcopal church of the United States. We have, therefore, a reasonable prospect, that whatever sums any persons shall give, particularly for foreign missions, will be appropriated for that object within a short period of time. In the same manner, it will be in the pow

Connected with the subject of missions is the duty of furnishing religious tracts and prayer books, and where they are not already supplied, bibles, to those who are unable to procure them for themselves. These supplies and missions should always go hand in hand. Religious tracts have often had a power of any one who shall prefer either of erful influence in calling the attention of the thoughtless to the important concerns of religion; and in places where the inhabitants are not provided with the regular administration of the word and ordinances of the gospel, the book of common prayer is peculiarly needed as a help to their publick and private devotions. All these objects will, therefore, naturally engage the attention of the friends of missions.

It seems hardly to be known, that an episcopal missionary society has been for several years incorporated and organized in this state, with ample powers for the accomplishment of the objects of which we have spoken, provided the friends of the church will furnish the requisite funds. This society can appropriate its funds, in distributing tracts and prayer books, or in supplying missionaries to the destitute in our own country, as either shall be found most likely to be useful; or it may contribute to the support of foreign missions, either under

the other objects of the society, to specify to which of these several purposes his donations shall be applied; while those sums which are not particularly appropriated by the donors, will be applied by the officers of the society to such purposes as they shall think most conducive to the general prosperity of the church.

I doubt not there are many who would be ready to do something in this cause, if they were fully aware of the urgency of the case, and of the facility of doing good, when proper measures were adopted. With your leave, therefore, I will suggest a plan for bringing this subject more directly before the publick.

I would propose that a meeting be called, in this town, of all who may be supposed to feel any interest in the cause, and let the whole subject be laid before them. And since as “iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend," let

there be a free discussion of the subject. Then let a subscription be opened, in such a manner as to leave it at the option of every subscriber to give to either of the objects that have been mentioned, or for the general purposes of the society. At the same time let a committee be appointed to obtain farther subscriptions, both in this vicinity, and by correspondence with the friends of missions in other parts of the diocese. I cannot but hope, that by some such means as these, something effectual may be done in this important cause.

S.

[THE observations on the orthography of the word" diocese," in the strictures on our work, inserted in the number for November, have induced us to reprint, from the Episcopal Magazine, the following communication from the injured letter E, which we understand was sent to the editor of that work by one of our own correspondents.]

From the Episcopal Magazine.

he has thereby departed from the usage of his author.

"He muste of necessitie be enforced to allowe us one by shop in every citie, shifte afterwarde as well as we may for laying out a dioces." White gifte. Defense of the Ecclesiasticall Regimen in Englande. Lond. 1574. p. 70.

An unfortunate letter, which has lately been deprived of its rights in the diocese by the most crooked of its relations, presumes to lay its case before you; being well aware that your love of truth and justice will incline you to acknowledge claims which are supported not only by the united forces of analogy and etymology, but also by the authority of almost the whole bench of bishops. E.

New York, June 7, 1820.

DIOCESE.

"And this in mine opinion is as large a dioces as any bishop dothe at this day challenge. Yet by the waye needes muste I wonder at this peevishe or rather childishe spight, dryvyng us to prove that dioceses were governed by bishoppes in the apostles' tyme, when not onely whole shyres, but scante one citie was generally faythfull." Ibid. p. 71.

"The direction of a dioces"-" for government of dioceses." Ibid. p. 73.

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"But some man will say, perhaps, a diocesse is to large a province for one man to governe." Ibid. p. 77.

"And thus much concerning dioceses." Ibid. p. 84.

It appears, therefore, that archbishop ces," and once or twice "diocesse," Whitgift wrote most commonly "diobut never as Johnson writes " divcess;" not having any of Raleigh's works at hand, I am unable to refer to them. As to South, the very passage quoted by Johnson makes against him as it regards orthography.

"St. Paul looks upon Titus as advanced to the dignity of a prime ruler of the church, and intrusted with a large diocese containing many particu lar churches under the immediate government of their respective elders; and those deriving authority from his ordination." South's Sermons, vol. i. Serm. v. p. 169. *

"He may teach his diocese who. ceases to be able to preach to it." Ibid. p. 174.

There are some authorities for "diocess,' "but in that case the plural is formed regularly "diocesses." Thus In the injunctions by queen Eliza

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Many of the divines of the time of queen Elizabeth and king James I. write" diocesse," forming the plural also regularly" diocesses." Thus bishop Jewel says, "even into mine own diocesse." Jewel, ans. to Cole. Fol.

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13. "Every diocesse is governed by one severall bishop." Ibid. Defense of Apology of Church of England. p. ii. p. 87. So Field, the celebrated friend of the still more celebrated Hooker. "Because being ministers unto the bishop, they were used by him for the viewing of such parts of his diocess as he could not conveniently come unto himselfe." Field, of the Church.p. 493. Oxford. Fol. ed.3.1635. "If a bishop adventure to doe any act of jurisdiction out of his owne diocesse, &c. Ibid. p. 497.

Two words we finde in antiquity used to expresse the flocks of Christ rapoixin and dioins, that is, parish and diocesse." Ibid. p. 501.

"There the old diocesse and bishops are in effect not abrogated, but a little altered." Bancroft's Survey, 4to. Lond. 1593. p. 103.

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of Eng. 4to. Lond. 1587. p. 1239. black letter.

"As every bishoppe hath in his dioces and in the partitions thereof as dioceses be now taken." Ibid. p. 1240. "In the civil lawe-the worde dio. cese is now and then taken for a province-but wee understand these terms of diocese and province otherwise, for a province to conteyne under it some number of dioceses."

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So bishop Bancroft above quoted: 'Every parish priest with them must bee a bishop; and have as full jurisdiction in his parochiall dioces, as it is lawful for any bishop in the world either to have or to execute." Bancroft's Survey. ut supra. p. 122.

A writer of the same period, Bilson, afterwards bishop of Winchester, says, "where wee have one bishop in a diocese tied to the lawes of God, the church and the prince, you would have three hundred in a diocese, in some more, all of equall power." Bilson Perpetual Gov. of Christ's Church. Lond. 4to. 1593. p. 295. black letter.

"Your quarel indeede is not to the length or breadth of their diocesesyou dislike that a bishop should have any diocese at all." Ibid. p. 320-321.

"As the use of dioceses was ancient, so the reason that first occasioned them was inevitable." Ibid. p. 325.

Hooker writes thus also: "The church where the bishop is set with his college of presbyters about him, we call a see; the local compass of his authority, we term a diocese." Hooker, Eccl. Pol. B. vii. Fol. Lond. 1723. p. 357. passim.

"Every such part was termed a diocese-diocese of Asia-diocese of Africa," &c. Ibid. p. 358. passim. Bishop Hall: "Did ever any of prelates challenge all the world as his diocese?" Hall, apology against Brown. ists. sect. 29.

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"The clergy of the several dioceses." Episc. by Divine Right. part ii. sec. 1. Bingham. "Another division of the Roman empire was into provinces and

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