A

PRESBYTERIAN CLERGYMAN

LOOKING FOR

THE CHURCH.

THE REV. FLAVEL S. MINES,

FIRST RECTOR OF TRINITY CHURCH,

SAN FRANCISCO.

NEW YORK:

DANIEL DANA, JR., 381 BROADWAY. 1859.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1849, by JOHN W. MITCHELL, (as Treasurer of The General Protestant Episcopal S. S. Union,) in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New-York.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE CONFLICT.

The Writer once a Presbyterian-Churchmen not proselyters-Change of mind

gradual-Uncharitableness?-Foundations must be laid deep-Earnest and

honest, though slow-The pain involved in the change-Consequent enthu-

siasm—One of three hundred. Pp. 5-12.

Mother and Father-Filial obedience÷The religion received by tradition not to

be lightly changed-Tradition makes up the bulk of our knowledge, secular as

well as spiritual-Tradition the very life of all the Sects-Tradition among

Quakers, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, &c.-Tradition universal-Pro-

viding a Faith for Children-Children baptized in the Church seven years

before the Author entered it himself—His change not the result of caprice or

blind or sudden impulse-Conscience-The Parent envying his children's

lot. Pp. 13-23.

CHAPTER III.

APOLOGY.

Princeton-Church Liturgy had then never been heard within a circuit of thirty

miles-Implicit faith-Doubts on Infant Baptism settled-Baptismal Regener-

ation-Never saw a line in favor of Episcopacy-The Church regarded with

almost silent contempt-Barley-cake in the camp-Episcopacy despatched at

Princeton in three days-No intention of reverting to it afterwards-Revivals

and Controversies-Honest Ignorance-Reproaches on Churchmen once dis-

senters-Bishop De Lancey's statement in regard to Romish perverts-Causes

of the dissatisfaction of Converts-Their natural enthusiasm-Advantage of

Church training-Defective sectarian training-Rarely remedied-Obstacles

to entrance into the Church ministry-" Remain where they are"-The Church

should adopt a liberal policy-Caste-Presbyterians inundated by Congrega-

tionalists Revolutionizing" the Church-Aims and duties of the Church

Pp. 24-39.