Not allowing oneself to talk of an opinion, is one of the surest helps to acting upon it, as it will find some vent. Communicating it, is like opening the valve of a steam boiler. Besides, if other people assent to it in theory, while they contradict it in their way of life, it gives us a fresh difficulty to encounter in annexing to it its real force: seeing people take up with blank words, 'Salt that hath lost its savour,' is excessively infectious. But, supposing they do not assist, this can only serve to confuse and stagger us, and leave us dissatisfied with them and ourselves; I do not mean our attainments, for of them we cannot think too little, but of our views, of which we ought never to permit ourselves to doubt. The sensible plan would be never to maintain an opinion contrary to the practice of others, unless we think we have sufficient weight with men to make them alter their likes and dislikes. But I am tired of making resolutions to be broken.”—Ibid. p. 32. A living writer has felt so strongly on the importance of this sacred modesty, that he has made it the subject of an entire poem: although, perhaps few have been aware how much he meant by it, or the full force of the sentiments of that hymn. It is too well known to render it allowable to quote the whole of it: but a consideration of it will add great weight to this Treatise; we allude to the "Fourth Sunday in Lent," in the Christian Year. The advice which the author has wished to offer to young men on the subject of Church principles, he has heard expressed in a sermon, from which he has obtained leave to transcribe an extract, which will serve to explain his meaning better than he could himself. "To embrace in their fulness the holy doctrines which the church has preserved to us, is not matter of names and words; not even of argument or proof. It is not even the holding certain truths, much less the clothing them in awful words. In this way people come to hold shreds and patches of truth, against our blessed Lord's warning, and so putting a piece of new cloth, unwrought, unadapted to themselves, to an old garment; that which is put in to fill it up, taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Thus, they injure themselves in their own faith, and may cause the truth itself to be evil spoken of. Use not high words, which express not what thou feelest, but what thou wouldest wish to feel. Try not to work thyself up to feel what thou feelest not; engage not upon high subjects and thoughts which are out of proportion to thy moral attainments; speak not of them in places ill-suited to them, or to persons unfitted to receive them; or when thyself art not in a fit frame, or more than what thou hast realized, (and this is what was meant by reserve as to religious knowledge) refrain thyself, and bind thyself to steady pursuit of present duty, remembering that thou art not thy own master, but that of all thou art, hast, dost, thou art to give account before God." As much has been said in the course of this Tract concerning the doctrine of Christ crucified, as connected with that of Christians bearing the cross, one is much afraid of seeming to speak controversially on a subject of so awful a nature; it would therefore perhaps be as well, before closing it, to express one's meaning in the following prayers of Bishop Wilson: "Luke ix. 23. Jesus said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." "O Jesus, who hast made this the rule and means of our salvation, enable us by Thy Spirit, Thy doctrine, and example, to observe it daily;-to wean our hearts from a love and fondness for this world, its pleasures, profits, and all its idols; to mortify our corrupt affections, and to correct and amend what is amiss in us ;—that we may be meek, and humble, and temperate, and learn to submit our wills to the will and law of God. And grant, O Lord, that we may never lead heathens and unbelievers to have unworthy thoughts of Thee and of Thy religion, by our ungodly lives, while we pretend to be Thy followers." "Luke xiii. 24. Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." May we never flatter ourselves, that the way to Heaven and happiness is easy, and that the generality of Christian people are in the way of salvation, when Thou hast declared the contrary. O may Thy Spirit convince us, that our salvation is not to be secured without great watchfulness and care, without labour, pains, and diligence;-and that, on these conditions, Thy goodness will enable us to overcome all the difficulties we can possibly meet with!" These Tracts are continued in Numbers, and sold at the price of 2d. for each sheet, or 7s. for 50 copies. LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. G. F. & J. RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, AND WATERLOO PLACE. 1840. GILBERT & RIVINGTON, Printers, St. John's Square, London. published, will be found more or less to uphold or elucidate the general doctrines inculcated in these Tracts: Bp. Taylor on Repentance, by Hale.-Rivingtons. Bp. Taylor's Golden Grove.-Parker, Oxford. Vincentii Lirinensis Commonitorium, with translation.-Parker, Oxford. Pusey on Cathedrals and Clerical Education.-Roake & Varty. Pusey on Baptism (published separately).-Rivingtons. Newman's Sermons, 4 vols.-Rivingtons. Newman on Romanism, &c.-Rivingtons. The Christian Year.-Parker, Oxford. Perceval on the Roman Schism.-Leslie. Bishop Jebb's Pastoral Instructions.-Duncan. Herbert's Poems and Country Pastor. Le Bas' Life of Archbishop Laud.-Rivingtons. Jones (of Nayland) on the Church. Bp. Bethell on Baptismal Regeneration.-Rivingtons. Bp. Beveridge's Sermons on the Ministry and Ordinances.-Parker, Oxford. Bp. Jolly on the Eucharist. Fulford's Sermons on the Ministry, &c.-Rivingtons. A Catechism on the Church.-Parker, Oxford. Russell's Judgment of the Anglican Church.-Baily. Larger Works which may be profitably studied. Bishop Bull's Sermons.-Parker, Oxford. Wall on Infant Baptism.-Do. Pearson on the Creed.-Do. Leslie's Works.-Do. Bingham's Works.-Straker, London. Palmer on the Liturgy.-University Press. Palmer on the Church.-Rivingtons. Hooker, ed. Keble.-Rivingtons. TRACTS FOR THE TIMES. THE GREEK DEVOTIONS OF BISHOP ANDREWS, TRANSLATED AND ARRANGED. I HAVE SET WATCHMEN UPON THY WALLS, O JERUSALEM; WHICH SHALL NEVER HOLD THEIR PEACE DAY NOR NIGHT. ADVERTISEMENT. THE only deviation in the following Translation from the order.of the original text, as we have it, has been in the case of such portions of it as are obviously without or out of place. These have been inserted into the main course of the Prayers, or collected together, or, if repetitions, omitted. No alterations have been made in the text itself, and all transpositions are noted as they occur. 2. Order of early or Matin Prayer-Litany-Confession 4. Course of Prayer for the Week (for each Day, under the five acts of Confession, Prayer for Grace, Profession, Intercession, and Praise, with an Introduc 6 12 17 31 B |