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diff --git a/old/64879-h/64879-h.htm b/old/64879-h/64879-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 8884ec1..0000000 --- a/old/64879-h/64879-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2012 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html - PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> -<head> -<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII" /> -<title>The Spiritual Improvement of the Census, by Robert George Baker</title> - <style type="text/css"> -/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ -<!-- - P { margin-top: .75em; - margin-bottom: .75em; - } - P.gutsumm { margin-left: 5%;} - P.poetry {margin-left: 3%; } - .GutSmall { font-size: 0.7em; } - H1, H2 { - text-align: center; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - } - H3, H4, H5 { - text-align: center; - margin-top: 1em; - margin-bottom: 1em; - } - BODY{margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; - } - table { border-collapse: collapse; } -table {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;} - td { vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid black;} - td p { margin: 0.2em; } - .blkquot {margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em;} /* block indent */ - - .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - - .pagenum {position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: small; - text-align: right; - font-weight: normal; - color: gray; - } - img { border: none; } - img.dc { float: left; width: 50px; height: 50px; } - p.gutindent { margin-left: 2em; } - p.gutlist { margin-top: 0.1em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 2em; text-indent: -1em} - div.gapspace { height: 0.8em; } - div.gapline { height: 0.8em; width: 100%; border-top: 1px solid;} - div.gapmediumline { height: 0.3em; width: 40%; margin-left:30%; - border-top: 1px solid; } - div.gapmediumdoubleline { height: 0.3em; width: 40%; margin-left:30%; - border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} - div.gapshortdoubleline { height: 0.3em; width: 20%; - margin-left: 40%; border-top: 1px solid; - border-bottom: 1px solid; } - div.gapdoubleline { height: 0.3em; width: 50%; - margin-left: 25%; border-top: 1px solid; - border-bottom: 1px solid;} - div.gapshortline { height: 0.3em; width: 20%; margin-left:40%; - border-top: 1px solid; } - .citation {vertical-align: super; - font-size: .5em; - text-decoration: none;} - span.red { color: red; } - body {background-color: #ffffc0; } - img.floatleft { float: left; - margin-right: 1em; - margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; } - img.floatright { float: right; - margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; - margin-bottom: 0.5em; } - img.clearcenter {display: block; - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0.5em; - margin-bottom: 0.5em} - div.figure {display: inline;} - div.figurecaption { text-align: center; - font-weight: bold; - margin-top: 0.5em; - margin-bottom: 1em} - --> - /* XML end ]]>*/ - </style> -<link rel='coverpage' href='images/cover.jpg' /> -</head> -<body> -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Spiritual Improvement of the Census, by -Robert George Baker - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: The Spiritual Improvement of the Census - A Sermon - - -Author: Robert George Baker - - - -Release Date: March 20, 2021 [eBook #64879] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SPIRITUAL IMPROVEMENT OF THE -CENSUS*** -</pre> -<p>Transcribed from the 1851 Lavis edition by David Price. -Many thanks to the British Library for making their copy -available.</p> -<h1><span class="GutSmall">THE</span><br /> -SPIRITUAL IMPROVEMENT OF THE CENSUS.</h1> - -<div class="gapspace"> </div> -<p style="text-align: center">~~~~~~~~~~~</p> - -<div class="gapspace"> </div> -<p style="text-align: center"><b>A SERMON</b>,</p> -<p style="text-align: center"><span class="GutSmall">PREACHED -IN</span></p> -<p style="text-align: center">The Parish Church of All Saints, -Fulham,</p> -<p style="text-align: center"><span -class="GutSmall">30</span><span class="GutSmall"><span -class="smcap">th</span></span><span class="GutSmall"> MARCH, -1851.</span></p> - -<div class="gapspace"> </div> -<p style="text-align: center"><span class="GutSmall">BY -THE</span><br /> -REV. R. G. BAKER, M.A.</p> -<p style="text-align: center"><span class="GutSmall">VICAR OF -FULHAM,</span><br /> -<span class="GutSmall">RURAL DEAN, AND PREBENDARY OF ST. -PAUL’S CATHEDRAL.</span></p> - -<div class="gapspace"> </div> - -<div class="gapshortline"> </div> -<p style="text-align: center"><span class="GutSmall"><i>WITH -NOTES</i></span><span class="GutSmall">.</span></p> - -<div class="gapshortline"> </div> - -<div class="gapspace"> </div> -<p style="text-align: center">SOLD BY LAVIS, FULHAM.</p> - -<div class="gapspace"> </div> -<p style="text-align: center"><a name="page2"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 2</span><span -class="GutSmall">LONDON</span><br /> -<span class="GutSmall">R. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET -HILL.</span></p> - -<div class="gapspace"> </div> -<h2><a name="page3"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -3</span>SERMON.</h2> -<blockquote><p style="text-align: center">2 <span -class="smcap">Samuel</span> xxiv. 10.</p> -<p>“<i>And David’s heart smote him after that he had -numbered the people</i>. <i>And David said unto the -Lord</i>, <i>I have sinned greatly in that I have done</i>: -<i>and now</i>, <i>I beseech thee</i>, <i>O Lord</i>, <i>take -away the iniquity of thy servant</i>; <i>for I have done very -foolishly</i>.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p><span class="smcap">At</span> the time here spoken of, David -had been, for nearly forty years, king over “<i>the -Lord’s people</i>.” The youngest of eight sons -of one of the shepherds of Israel, and raised from that lowly -station to the throne by the express appointment of Jehovah, it -may well excite our surprise to observe his conduct on the -occasion to which the text refers. We might have supposed -that the incidents of his early life, no less than the experience -of his riper years, would have taught him a more simple spirit of -faith and trust than that which he now showed. “<i>A -lion and a bear</i>” came upon him while he was yet a boy, -and took a lamb out of his father’s flock which he was -keeping; and he was not only delivered from them, but enabled -alone and unharmed to slay them. <a name="citation3"></a><a -href="#footnote3" class="citation">[3]</a> At another time, -when the Philistine giant defied the armies of the living God, -David went forth of his own accord to meet him. Mindful of -the same power which had saved him from “<i>the lion and -the bear</i>,” he asked no armour for his protection. -He sought no weapon for the fight. “<i>Strong in the -Lord</i>, <i>and in the power of his might</i>,” he -prevailed, <a name="page4"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -4</span>“<i>with a sling and with a stone</i>.” <a -name="citation4a"></a><a href="#footnote4a" -class="citation">[4a]</a> And “<i>the weak thing</i>, -<i>and the base thing</i>, <i>and the thing that was -despised</i>,” was chosen to confound and to -“<i>bring to nought the thing that was mighty</i>, <i>in -order that no flesh should glory in the presence of -God</i>.” <a name="citation4b"></a><a href="#footnote4b" -class="citation">[4b]</a> Then, again, how often had David -been rescued from the personal jealousy of Saul! What -signal success had been granted him against the enemies of -Israel! And how strikingly had even the rebellion of his -own misguided son been overruled to the promotion of his safety -and glory!</p> -<p>But it appears that all this instruction had been given him in -vain. He was still disposed to depend, in the transaction -before us, upon the “<i>arm of flesh</i>.” -Proud of the extent of his dominions and of the multitude of his -subjects, and secretly pleased with the proof it would afford to -other nations of his own wisdom and good government, he caused -the people to be numbered; although, as the opening of this very -chapter shows, it was against the advice, and even the -entreaties, of his own officers. For “<i>Joab</i>, -<i>the captain of the host</i>, <i>had said unto the king</i>, -<i>Now the Lord thy God add unto the people</i>, <i>how many -soever they be</i>, <i>an hundredfold</i>, <i>and that the eyes -of my lord the king may see it</i>: <i>but why doth my lord the -king delight in this thing</i>? <i>Notwithstanding the -king’s word prevailed against Joab</i>, <i>and against the -captains of the host</i>.” <a name="citation4c"></a><a -href="#footnote4c" class="citation">[4c]</a> The heart of -David, however, was soon opened by Divine grace to confess and to -deplore the offence which he had committed. And the fearful -judgment that followed served at once, in the most instructive -manner, to humble and to disappoint him, by showing him how -entirely he was dependent upon God for that <i>very source of -strength and greatness</i> which his conceit led him to prize so -highly, and how suddenly he might be stripped of it. The -account is given in the verses which follow immediately upon the -text. For being allowed to choose between three <a -name="page5"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 5</span>visitations, -famine, war, and pestilence, and preferring that which he -supposed would fall upon his country most lightly, “<i>the -Lord</i>,” we read, “<i>sent a pestilence upon Israel -from the morning even to the time appointed</i>, <i>and there -died of the people seventy thousand men</i>.”</p> -<p>It may be right for us to bear in mind, that what made this -act of numbering the Israelites so very offensive to God, was -that it tended to draw off the hearts of the king and of his -people from that single and undivided regard which they owed to -Him. All the trials of that nation carried on for such a -long course of years, and all the statutes and laws given for -their guidance, were meant to keep this conviction uppermost in -their minds. They had been singled out from the rest of -mankind, not only as the guardians of the true faith and worship, -but as witnesses to all the world of the power, and love, and -faithfulness of the Lord. Special mercies, continued -miracles, wonderful deliverances were wrought for them, in order -that they might feel, at every stage of their eventful history, -that they were peculiarly <i>His people</i>. If -<i>bread</i> was wanting to allay their hunger, or <i>water</i> -to assuage their thirst, or <i>raiment</i> to cover their bodies, -it was not provided by any of the slow contrivances of human -industry. But <i>the hard rock</i> poured forth -<i>their</i> water, and <i>the heavens</i> showered down -<i>their</i> food, and their “<i>raiment waxed not old upon -them</i>,” even during the long period of forty -years. If the inhabitants of every other land gave way -before them as they advanced, <i>they</i> were taught, and they -might have learnt, from the utter disproportion of their own -powers, that it was “<i>the Lord their God</i>” who -drove them out. And if, in the restlessness of their -spirit, they desired to have a king to reign over them, they were -reminded that “<i>the Lord their God</i>” was -<i>their</i> King. However <i>few</i>, in any case, were -the numbers of <i>their</i> hosts, they always proved -<i>sufficient</i> for the work which they were charged to -achieve. And however <i>numerous</i> they were at <a -name="page6"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 6</span>other times, it -might yet please Him, as it did on the occasion here recorded, to -turn their strength into weakness in an instant. This -numbering of the people, therefore, showed an utter distrust of -that goodness which had never failed them, and called down a -judgment so severe, that it must have warned them for ever -against a repetition of the offence.</p> -<p>The question will have occurred already, perhaps, to the minds -of some who hear me, Can any similar degree of guilt attach to -that numbering of our own people which is going on at this time -throughout the land, from one end of it even to the other? -If, in the case of David, the measure was condemned so fearfully, -and involved so signal a punishment, what are the circumstances -in our own case that tend to remove from it any such reproach, -and may even lead us to hope that instead of thwarting the will -and pleasure of our God, we are really proceeding in conformity -to it, and even promoting his purposes of grace and goodness to -our land?</p> -<p>My brethren, in order to answer such an inquiry aright, it -seems only necessary that we should remember the essential -difference already pointed out between the chosen nation and any -which the world has since seen. Never in any other case has -the civil government of kingdoms been carried on by the immediate -agency of Almighty power. <i>Our</i> national welfare -depends not upon miracles, but upon those provisions of human -forethought or experience, which, under the Divine blessing, -appear best adapted to meet each exigency that arises. And -although there is often cause to lament that this blessing is so -seldom <i>implored</i> by us distinctly and publicly as a -Christian people, and so little <i>acknowledged</i> by us in the -many mercies, which, as a Christian people, we are enjoying, yet -still we may humbly believe that the inquiry now conducted cannot -be displeasing to God. Many facts will be learnt from it -conducive to the common <a name="page7"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 7</span>good, and tending either to suggest or -to mature provisions for our social improvement. Many -practical lessons will be gained, teaching us how we may better -“<i>bear each other’s burdens</i>, <i>and so fulfil -the law of Christ</i>.” <a name="citation7a"></a><a -href="#footnote7a" class="citation">[7a]</a> Many truths -will be derived from the results of this Census, which may -strengthen our hands as “<i>members one of -another</i>;” <a name="citation7b"></a><a -href="#footnote7b" class="citation">[7b]</a> and some objects, it -may be hoped, will be answered by it, in the advancement of which -we may cheerfully join in giving effect to the counsels of our -rulers.</p> -<p>At the same time there are thoughts mingling with this subject -of a more serious and personal kind, to which I could desire, in -the guidance of God’s Spirit, to direct your minds. -And the occasion for suggesting them appears so seasonable, and -occurs so seldom, that it may reconcile us to the omission of -other topics of inquiry, and the endeavour to found upon it some -which may be made, under the teaching of that Spirit, conducive -to our edification and salvation.</p> -<p>This enrolling of our people <i>every tenth year</i>, each -man’s family in his own house, may it not read to us some -lessons as Christians; while it affords to those who are set over -us in the Lord, the materials for their guidance in the great -work of government and legislation? Whether we regard it as -private individuals, or as fellow-subjects in that civil -community with which the Providence of God has connected us, or -as members of the Church of Christ and “<i>heirs together -of the grace of life</i>,” <a name="citation7c"></a><a -href="#footnote7c" class="citation">[7c]</a> it may suggest to us -many reflections of thankfulness, self-inquiry and abasement.</p> -<p><i>Ten years</i> have passed away since this Census was last -taken; and of course by far the larger portion of those here -present were at that time included in it. These allotted -periods fixed by the institutions of men agree very remarkably -with those which the Spirit of God in his word has pointed out as -warnings <a name="page8"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 8</span>of -the shortness and the uncertainty of life. “<i>The -days of our age are threescore years and ten</i>; <i>and if by -reason of strength they be fourscore years</i>, <i>yet is their -strength labour and sorrow</i>; <i>for it is soon cut off</i>, -<i>and we fly away</i>.” <a name="citation8a"></a><a -href="#footnote8a" class="citation">[8a]</a> If this, then, -be the limit to the life of man, what an important portion of it -do these latter years contain, quickly as they pass away, and -short as they now appear in looking back upon them! It is -well known that nearly one-half of the number of deaths that -occur among mankind happen before the tenth year of life is -completed. Yet have <i>we all</i> been spared, through -sickness, and casualties, and during one year of that term -through pestilence itself raging at our doors, to see the end of -it; and to improve it, as affording a rich fund of opportunities, -and warnings, and motives, and principles for the period yet to -come. Nor is it only life that has been thus continued to -us; but life with all its attendant health, and strength, and -reason, and many temporal comforts. And there have been -dangers warded off, and blessings multiplied to us in a measure -which we should now find it difficult, even with the utmost -stretch of memory, to reckon; still less to trace out all those -impressions of gratitude and praise towards the Great Dispenser -of them all, which each of them, as it passed, ought to have -fixed indelibly upon the heart. For these are all the -gifts, too often even the unasked gifts, but in every case the -undeserved and ill-requited gifts of Him “<i>in whom we -live</i>, <i>and move</i>, <i>and have our being</i>.” <a -name="citation8b"></a><a href="#footnote8b" -class="citation">[8b]</a> And in addition to these, how -mercifully have our spiritual privileges been continued to us, -those which unite us with “<i>Christ the hope of -glory</i>,” <a name="citation8c"></a><a href="#footnote8c" -class="citation">[8c]</a> and which open to us the supplies of -His grace, and which long since ought to have led our affections -from earthly to heavenly things. <i>For ten years more</i> -has the revealed word of God been spread out before us, -“<i>the engrafted word</i>, <i>which is able to save our -</i><a name="page9"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -9</span><i>souls</i>;” <a name="citation9a"></a><a -href="#footnote9a" class="citation">[9a]</a> inviting us to -“<i>flee from the wrath to come</i>;” <a -name="citation9b"></a><a href="#footnote9b" -class="citation">[9b]</a> charging us to have our treasure in -heaven; and reminding us, wherever we open it, of the things -which belong to our eternal peace. <i>For ten years -more</i> has His Blessed Son been calling to us to “<i>come -to Him that we might have life</i>;” <a -name="citation9c"></a><a href="#footnote9c" -class="citation">[9c]</a> cheering us with the promise that -“<i>whosoever cometh to Him shall in no wise be cast -out</i>;” <a name="citation9d"></a><a href="#footnote9d" -class="citation">[9d]</a> offering to meet and to bless us with -His spiritual presence in the ordinances of His own appointment -upon earth, and interceding for us continually before the throne -of His Father in heaven. <i>For ten years more</i> has that -Spirit who does “<i>not always strive with man</i>,” -<a name="citation9e"></a><a href="#footnote9e" -class="citation">[9e]</a> been striving with <i>us</i>; often -grieved by our coldness, our inconsistency, our unwatchfulness; -yet never quite leaving us to ourselves; and even now waiting to -be entreated by us, that He may purify and sanctify us -wholly. And let me say, that if it is an obvious, it is -also a solemn thought, that <i>these ten years</i> have included -above 500 Sabbaths; each of which might have been, had we -diligently improved them, a new step in our advancement towards -heaven. They might have made such an addition to our stock -of spiritual knowledge, and strength, and progress, as would ere -now have carried us far more onward than we have yet reached -towards that “<i>rest which remaineth for the people of -God</i>.” <a name="citation9f"></a><a href="#footnote9f" -class="citation">[9f]</a></p> -<p>And then comes the concerning question, from which not one -person who hears me can escape; In what manner, to what degree -have these advantages been turned to account? <i>These ten -years</i> of continued forbearance, and longer trial, and -multiplied mercies on the part of our God, do they find us at the -close of them living more closely to Him; more desirous of His -favour; more afraid of His displeasure; and adorning more, in our -life and conversation, the gospel of His own dear Son? -<i>So much </i><a name="page10"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -10</span><i>nearer</i> as we must know ourselves to be to our -latter end, are we in any, and in what measure, better prepared -to meet it? Do our tempers and pursuits prove us to be, -what this new stage of our journey must convince us that we are, -mere “<i>strangers and sojourners upon earth</i>,” <a -name="citation10a"></a><a href="#footnote10a" -class="citation">[10a]</a> seeking “<i>a better -country</i>, <i>that is</i>, <i>an heavenly</i>?” <a -name="citation10b"></a><a href="#footnote10b" -class="citation">[10b]</a> Or rather, are there not some -sins still, as in time past, a shame and a burden to us; some -evil habits or negligences, some ignorances or omissions yet -cleaving to us, and even growing with our growth, and -strengthening with our strength? The world, the flesh, and -the devil, those three enemies of our souls whom we engaged in -our baptism to renounce, have they less power over us than they -once had? And do we find in ourselves more readiness to -pray, more comfort in our private prayers, more delight in our -Sabbaths, more of actual profit from all the means of grace, than -we did before? With such an inquiry as this presented to -him, and quickened by the thought, that as more time is gone -there is so much the less remaining, may not the most advanced -and established among us find room for confession and -self-abasement? And if this indeed be so, if even -“<i>the righteous scarcely be saved</i>, <i>where shall the -ungodly and the sinner appear</i>?” <a -name="citation10c"></a><a href="#footnote10c" -class="citation">[10c]</a> Where those who “<i>make a -mock at sin</i>,” <a name="citation10d"></a><a -href="#footnote10d" class="citation">[10d]</a> “<i>glory in -their shame</i>,” and only “<i>mind earthly -things</i>?” <a name="citation10e"></a><a -href="#footnote10e" class="citation">[10e]</a> What must be -their state in the sight of God, and what their aggravated -danger, who for <i>ten years more</i> have been -“<i>crucifying the Son of God afresh</i>” <a -name="citation10f"></a><a href="#footnote10f" -class="citation">[10f]</a> by their open unresisted ways of sin, -despising the grace of God, and giving a more free indulgence to -those very lusts against which the true believers have been at -least watching, and contending, and praying?</p> -<p>My brethren, it may seem, no doubt, an alarming reflection, -but it is still a faithful saying, and confirmed by all our -experience, that if <i>ten years more</i> <a -name="page11"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 11</span>have not -carried us forward in our heavenly course, if they do not find us -growing in grace, in the knowledge of ourselves and in the -knowledge of Christ Jesus, they will too probably find us -confirmed in evil; more estranged from God; more ripe for -judgment; the chains of sin bound faster around us, and all our -habits more difficult of change; nay, even impossible to be -changed, until that Spirit from on high be given us, who can at -any time turn a man from darkness to light, but who, the longer -He is wilfully slighted, is the less willing to be sought.</p> -<p>These are some of the topics, and, as I well know, they are -but a few of them, which a retrospect of this interval might urge -upon us as individuals; and these arise only from a review of our -own position as the survivors of this new period of probation -which the Lord in mercy has permitted us to pass. But I -might well ask you to cast your eyes once more back, (it will be -wise and profitable for us to do so,) in order that we may call -to mind how many persons, some of them dear to us as our own -souls, <i>began</i> this same period with us, who have not lived -like us to witness its <i>close</i>. If the thought -suggests to any of my hearers some recollections of pain, and -sorrow, and separation, may they have the grace given them to -consider that it is the brightest light which casts the deepest -shadows; and that there are trains of thought which can edify -while they sadden us; like the shade of Peter’s body, -which, as it passed across the multitudes, gave life and health -to whatever it obscured. <a name="citation11a"></a><a -href="#footnote11a" class="citation">[11a]</a></p> -<p>The number of interments which have occurred within the last -ten years in the three burial grounds of this parish have -included more than a fifth part of its population. Such is -the sure and rapid way in which, day by day, and year by year, -the sentence passed upon our fallen race is fulfilled. -“<i>Dust thou art</i>, <i>and unto dust shalt thou -return</i>.” <a name="citation11b"></a><a -href="#footnote11b" class="citation">[11b]</a> And some of -these events, if I could now place them in order before <a -name="page12"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 12</span>you, have -been attended with circumstances so full of awakening -instruction, they have proclaimed so distinctly the instability -of all earthly ties, the vanity of all expectations that have not -heaven for their object, and the love of Christ for their -security and their motive, that no louder call could ever be -addressed to those who have been most nearly affected by -them. And as surely and as quickly will the same mortality -proceed during the next decade of the world’s -duration. Another like proportion, another fifth, yes, my -brethren, one person in five, of those who are assembled here -to-day, will be swept off from the engrossing cares and the -unsatisfying frivolities of life into the great charnel-house -which must ere long receive us all. How many more such ties -will be loosened before the same interval recurs again! -Those whom we love the best may be taken from us, or we from -them, never more to meet until the resurrection of the last -day. With such perpetual notices before us of the shortness -of our time, and of the momentous nature of that work which it is -given us to do, let us resolve to work while it is day. Let -us neglect no call; let us abuse no warning; let us lose no -opportunity which may assist us in making our “<i>calling -and election sure</i>.” <a name="citation12a"></a><a -href="#footnote12a" class="citation">[12a]</a> -“<i>This I say</i>,” declares St. Paul, with a full -conviction of the truth upon his mind, “<i>This I say</i>, -<i>that the time is short</i>: <i>it remaineth</i>, <i>that both -they that have wives be as though they had none</i>; <i>and they -that weep</i>, <i>as though they wept not</i>; <i>and they that -rejoice</i>, <i>as though they rejoiced not</i>; <i>and they that -buy</i>, <i>as though they possessed not</i>; <i>and they that -use this world</i>, <i>as not abusing it</i>: <i>for the fashion -of this world passeth away</i>.” <a -name="citation12b"></a><a href="#footnote12b" -class="citation">[12b]</a></p> -<p>Suffer me now to advert to some topics of inquiry which such -an occasion as this presents to us, as members of the same civil -community, fellow-citizens of the same favoured land, or even as -inhabitants of <a name="page13"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -13</span>the same parish. There are other mercies for us to -review, and there are other grounds of humiliation in the abuse -of them, which we have to cherish beyond those which belong to us -as private individuals. And to these we cannot safely be -indifferent.</p> -<p>Consider the many blessings we have to acknowledge as bestowed -upon our country. During the earliest of these intervals -fixed for numbering the people, of which we have now reached the -sixth, we were engaged in destructive wars, always a source of -the most extensive misery and crime. And ever, as the -period came round for enrolling our living population, there was -an allowance to be made for the losses it had suffered of -multitudes who had passed into the grave before their full time, -in foreign lands, amidst the horrors of the battlefield or the -naval fight, their last hours wanting all the solace of domestic -endearment or spiritual comfort. But we have now been -mercifully spared for nearly forty years from any general or -continued war. <i>Ten years more</i> of almost unbroken -peace, or of peace broken only in the remoter dependencies of the -empire, have passed over us. And very few of our -countrymen, comparatively with other times, have had their lives -cut short by a scourge to which the pride and covetousness of -mankind are always urging them, but which it may be hoped the God -of love and peace, in answer to the prayers of His servants, will -continue still to restrain. It was a feeling of the terrors -of that scourge which drew from David the affecting entreaty -recorded in the chapter before us: “<i>Let us fall now into -the hands of the Lord</i>; <i>for his mercies are great</i>: -<i>and let us not fall into the hands of man</i>.” <a -name="citation13"></a><a href="#footnote13" -class="citation">[13]</a></p> -<p>And if it cannot equally be said that our land has been spared -from the visitation of pestilence, if it has pleased God, within -the last ten years, to send again among us that fearful judgment, -what cause had we for thankfulness that even in the midst of that -judgment <a name="page14"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -14</span>He remembered mercy, and that in the most direct answer -to prevailing prayer that we have ever witnessed, He caused the -disorder to cease even at the time when it seemed to be defying -all human means of restraining it.</p> -<p>There are two aspects in which this new enrolment will present -itself to the mind as connected with our national state. -And there are different conclusions to be drawn from it, -according as they are viewed or not in the light which the -Scripture gives us, and tried by the rules which it -affords. It may be thought, when this new list is making -out of our people from one end of the country to the other, -advancing as they probably are in numbers, intelligence, and -wealth, the result of it will rather speak the language of -exultation than of abasement. While we are arranging in -their different classes our men of opulence, and our men of -business, and our men of science, “<i>merchants</i>,” -like those of the “<i>crowning city</i>,” equal to -“<i>princes</i>, <i>and traffickers ranked among the -honourable of the earth</i>;” <a name="citation14a"></a><a -href="#footnote14a" class="citation">[14a]</a> our cunning -artificers and our tillers of the ground surpassing those of -other lands in diligence, enterprise, and talent; there is enough -here, it may be thought, to assure us that God is well pleased -with us, and that all these proofs of worldly prosperity are -pledges of His favour. Surely, it will be said by some who -witness it, “<i>this great nation is a wise and -understanding people</i>.” <a name="citation14b"></a><a -href="#footnote14b" class="citation">[14b]</a> And yet let -us remember, that the distinctions of nations, like those of -individuals, are given to them as talents to be accounted for and -improved, not in order to flatter pride, or to promote the -comparison of themselves with others. The higher is the -measure of our privileges, the heavier is the weight of our -responsibilities. These signs of greatness may be found -utterly worthless when they are weighed in the balance of the -sanctuary, and may be tending only to increase our -condemnation. If, indeed, our <a name="page15"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 15</span>zeal for God’s glory had kept -pace with our experience of His mercies; if, placed as we are at -the head of the commerce of the world, our influence reaching to -every sea and every shore on which the sun shines, we had carried -with us that best of our national treasures, that which is -interdicted to some nations, and, alas! as yet unknown to many -more, the pure, the full, the free gospel of the grace of God; -if, many years ago, we had taken up that position, to the -importance of which we seem only to have awakened of late, that -of being, as the heralds of the Church, the evangelizers of -mankind; if the moral and spiritual improvement of our people at -home had advanced as rapidly as their intellectual character, -then, indeed, we might have given up the account of our resources -with joy and not with grief. But since it is most true, as -you yourselves also know, that while the largest funds are never -wanting for every scheme, the wildest, the most uncertain, of -worldly speculation or display, they are often left to fail, and -to fall away, and to be importuned for in the prosecution of the -soberest, the most scriptural plans for promoting the glory of -God, or the welfare of some distressed portion or other of our -fellow-men; if all the boasted improvements in our means of -communication are only carrying into the quietest and least -corrupted districts of the land new incentives to Sabbath -desecration; if while we have been spared from the desolations of -foreign war, we are given up, at this very hour, to intestine -divisions pervading equally the Church and the State, and upon -questions where a Christian people ought to be found essentially -agreed; here, again, we have cause rather to humble than to exalt -ourselves, and to fear lest our God should enter into judgment -with us for this poor requital of all the distinctions with which -we have been blessed.</p> -<p>The most remarkable event which, within <i>the last ten -years</i>, has affected the spiritual state of our own <a -name="page16"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 16</span>parish, has -been the erection, in a district scarcely built upon before, but -in the midst of a poor and now rapidly increasing population, of -a spacious and splendid Roman Catholic church, with extensive -school-rooms and the residence of a priest attached to it. -My brethren, there are but few probably among us who would lament -this measure, if its only design and its only effect were to -provide for the instruction of that large number of Roman -Catholic labourers who inhabit that and the contiguous -districts. Shut out as they are, by the stern prohibitions -of their own priesthood, from all access to our means of grace; -taught to believe that all doctrine is heresy, and all -instruction hurtful, which does not flow directly from their own -communion; living among us, as they did, for so many years, like -sheep having no shepherd, who would condemn the only provision -being at length made for them, of which their unhappy state -admitted? Nay more; may we not hope that having been left -hitherto equally ignorant and fettered, ignorant of the commonest -means of knowledge, and fettered and precluded from attaining it, -the instruction now given to their children will one day become -the blessed means of enabling them to throw off their fetters, -and make an opening for the light of Gospel truth to shine upon -their souls? But, alas! all that we see and hear forbids us -to believe that the only design or effect of this measure is to -enable the Romanists to provide for their own people. There -is already too much evidence to show that it has all the -character of an aggression upon the faith of the members of our -Church. It is in full accordance with those measures, which -within the last few months have happily awakened the Protestant -spirit of our whole people, and have shown in its true colours -the influence of that unscriptural and grasping Church from which -they sprang. By devices the most insidious, our people are -invited to witness the imposing ritual of this new building; <a -name="page17"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 17</span>while -depositaries are opened, even at our own doors, for the public -sale of cheap tracts, that tend, with bitter irony and gross -misstatements, to discredit <i>our</i> institutions and to -recommend <i>theirs</i>. <a name="citation17a"></a><a -href="#footnote17a" class="citation">[17a]</a> What will be -the actual result of all this conflict between truth and error -before <i>ten more years</i> have passed, it may not be easy to -say. If those among us who are spared to outlive them are -enabled to “<i>hold fast the profession of their faith -without wavering</i>,” <a name="citation17b"></a><a -href="#footnote17b" class="citation">[17b]</a> they may not only -save their own souls, but lead others, who can only view Him now -through the mists of their corruptions, to honour the holy name -of Him by whom we are called. But surely, with these facts -before us, there is the strongest inducement for us all, not only -to examine ourselves whether we are in the faith, but why, and on -what grounds we are in it; <a name="citation17c"></a><a -href="#footnote17c" class="citation">[17c]</a> while there is a -motive created strong enough to induce all who have the means at -their command to promote any well-advised plans for arresting the -evil, or turning it, through God’s blessing, to good. <a -name="citation17d"></a><a href="#footnote17d" -class="citation">[17d]</a></p> -<p>To conclude. The inquiry which will be going on -to-morrow throughout the country is addressed to us all, as the -heads of our separate households; each giving a return of the -names, and ages, and birthplace, and occupations of those, who -will pass this very night under his own roof. But surely -the thought will occur to <i>some</i> among us, I would to God -that it might be brought home by His Spirit to the hearts of -<i>all</i>, that there are several other points of inquiry -besides these, upon which the great Head of the Church may be -expecting, and really does expect, an account to be rendered by -us. We may have no power to influence the character or to -regulate the habits of those large masses of the people whose -irreligion, in the crowded districts that surround us, we may -deplore. The influence which is to affect a whole nation -falls within the power of very few. But that which affects -the character of any family or household, <a -name="page18"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 18</span>(and nations -are made up of families) depends mainly on the principles, aye, -and even on the tempers and way of life of those whom God places -over them; for this also is an allotment of His providence. -Let us then suppose for an instant, that it was desired to -obtain, as on this same day, a return of what might be called the -spiritual statistics of England. Suppose, that laying -aside, or rather looking beyond the mere considerations of civil -or political economy, it were wished to learn by such distinct -and palpable records as might be furnished, the actual state of -religion through the whole extent of our population. I well -know, indeed, that there are signs and marks of which no earthly -inquiries could take cognizance; proofs of spiritual growth in -some, and of declension in others; secret concessions to the -corrupt nature in one class, or inward aspirations after holiness -in the other; hypocrisies which no eye can detect among -“<i>the children of this world</i>,” and spiritual -conflicts in the “<i>children of light</i>,” which -can only be known to the Supreme Searcher of their hearts. -But when all this is allowed, we might lay down some distinctions -in every case, the existence or the absence of which would go far -to show, whether the master of that house, and those around him, -were really serving God or not. If it were inquired -throughout the land, or if, limiting the supposition to our own -parish, it were asked in every house, Is family prayer maintained -<i>under this roof</i>? <a name="citation18a"></a><a -href="#footnote18a" class="citation">[18a]</a> Is the -Sabbath observed by the master, by the servants, by the children, -as “<i>a delight</i>, <i>the holy of the Lord</i>, -<i>honourable</i>?” <a name="citation18b"></a><a -href="#footnote18b" class="citation">[18b]</a> all work suspended -which may be left undone, and every pursuit given up which is -inconsistent with the real spirit of the day, as one of holy -rest? Would the general answers to these questions be such -as we could really ponder over with any comfort? Or again, -if it were asked, How many Bibles <i>in this house</i> are -diligently searched? How <a name="page19"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 19</span>many of its inmates are not only -permitted, but encouraged and invited, and if need be, urged to -attend upon the public worship of God? Is there a -servants’ library <i>in this house</i>, to which every one -of them may have recourse for some edifying or self-improving -reading during the leisure intervals of their service? <a -name="citation19a"></a><a href="#footnote19a" -class="citation">[19a]</a> How many communicants are there -<i>in this family</i> among those who have reached the proper age -of full communion with the Church, and with her living -Head? How many of the children are really reared in the -spirit of their baptismal vows, “<i>virtuously brought up -to lead a godly and a Christian life</i>?” <a -name="citation19b"></a><a href="#footnote19b" -class="citation">[19b]</a> Are not these subjects of -inquiry on which there would be too great cause for self-reproach -to many among us; the reproach resting upon those who had all the -means afforded them for their spiritual sustenance and growth, -but have carelessly neglected to improve them?</p> -<p>My brethren, I commend these remarks in all faithfulness and -affection to your private meditations and your prayers. And -may your own consciences, enlightened by the Spirit of God, guide -you to some profitable application of them! May it be given -to each of us to feel this day, that we are supplying a return of -so many beings, not merely connected with us by the ties and -duties of an earthly relation, or a short-lived existence here; -but of those who are travelling on quickly with ourselves to an -eternity of bliss or woe; precious, never-dying souls; the -objects equally with us of the Saviour’s love, the -Spirit’s teaching, and the Father’s care; called -equally with us to be members of Christ, children of God, and -heirs of the kingdom of heaven. What “<i>I say unto -you I would say unto all</i>, <i>Watch</i>! <i>for ye know not -when the Master of the house will come</i>” to reckon with -us, whether at the close, or the middle, or the opening of this -new decade on which we are now entering.</p> -<p><a name="page20"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 20</span>But -this we know, that when the Lord does come the second time from -heaven, then will be the great numbering of the nations: not the -mere periodical census of a single kingdom, which, with all its -boasted wealth and enterprise, is but a mere speck upon the -surface of our earth; but a numbering of all the myriads that -have ever peopled it, from the family of the first man until -there “<i>shall be time no longer</i>;” <a -name="citation20a"></a><a href="#footnote20a" -class="citation">[20a]</a> “<i>the sea giving up the dead -which are in it</i>; <i>and death and the grave delivering up the -dead</i>” <a name="citation20b"></a><a href="#footnote20b" -class="citation">[20b]</a> which are in them; and all -distinctions of age, or rank, or learning, or riches, or power, -lost and sunk, in the simple but everlasting distinction between -those who served God, and those who served Him not; those whose -names are written in the Lamb’s book of life, and those not -to be found there. And then will these inquiries and such -as these, which your ministers urge upon you now in “<i>the -foolishness of preaching</i>,” <a name="citation20c"></a><a -href="#footnote20c" class="citation">[20c]</a> but which too -often reach only unwilling ears and careless hearts, then shall -they be enforced by “<i>the voice of the archangel and by -the trump of God</i>.” <a name="citation20d"></a><a -href="#footnote20d" class="citation">[20d]</a></p> -<p>Let us then “<i>walk circumspectly</i>, <i>not as -fools</i>, <i>but as wise</i>, <i>redeeming the time</i>, -<i>because the days are evil</i>.” <a -name="citation20e"></a><a href="#footnote20e" -class="citation">[20e]</a> And may we be found so far -faithful to Him who calls us, that out of these our earthly -households, some may be continually gathering to join that -“<i>multitude which no man can number</i>,” <a -name="citation20f"></a><a href="#footnote20f" -class="citation">[20f]</a> who, on the sea of glass and before -the sapphire throne, are worshipping Him that sits upon the -throne, and casting their crowns before Him, and saying, -“<i>Thou art worthy to receive glory</i>, <i>and -honour</i>, <i>and power</i>; <i>for thou hast created all -things</i>, <i>and for Thy pleasure they are and were -created</i>!” <a name="citation20g"></a><a -href="#footnote20g" class="citation">[20g]</a></p> -<h2><a name="page21"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -21</span>NOTES.</h2> -<h3>Note A. (P. 17.)</h3> -<p>During the evenings of the late winter months a series of -scenic representations, twice in every week, was displayed in the -school-room, which is near the church; and the admission being -free, they were attended by large numbers of the poorer class, -Roman Catholic and Protestant. On these occasions the -priest always attended, and explained the subjects represented, -which were uniformly taken from the Scripture. And he lost -no opportunity of inviting his audience to hear the same subjects -enforced in the church which thus interested them in the -school-room.</p> -<p>The following extracts from some of these tracts, which are -all announced upon a large printed placard in the window of the -house where they are sold, as having received</p> -<p style="text-align: center"><span class="smcap">The</span> -“<span class="smcap">approbation of his Eminence Cardinal -Wiseman and all the Catholic Bishops</span>,”</p> -<p>will justify, it is presumed, without a comment, the epithets -here applied to them, as describing their character and -tendency. They are either untrue, unfair, or ironical.</p> -<p>Extracts from a tract, entitled, “<i>Protestantism -weighed in its own Balance</i>, <i>and found wanting</i>. -No. 1. <i>The Bible</i>, <i>and the Bible -only</i>.”</p> -<blockquote><p>“It is worth observing that this rule of -faith, as well in its short and popular form, as also when more -fully drawn out and explained, is rather negative than -positive. Those who use it are more careful to say what -they do <i>not</i> than what they <i>do</i>. They insist -upon ‘the Bible <i>only</i>’ to the exclusion of -everything else, but they are not equally jealous about receiving -the whole Bible, every part of it. They say that nothing is -to be required of any man that it <a name="page22"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 22</span>should be believed which is not to be -found in the Bible, or at least may not be proved thereby; but -they do not with equal distinctness insist upon the duty of -believing everything which <i>is</i> read in that sacred book or -<i>may be</i> proved by it. This is no idle assertion, but -is plain matter of fact.”—P. 1.</p> -<p>“There are many texts even then which they do not really -receive; some which are to them as an unknown tongue, without any -meaning at all, and which they therefore make no use of whatever; -others which seem to be opposed to their own creed, and which -they therefore try to escape from and to explain away; lastly, -there are others which they even boldly -contradict.”—P. 2.</p> -<p>“If God did not intend the Bible to be man’s only -guide and teacher in matters of religion, but appointed His -Church for this very purpose, that she should fulfil this office, -and promised her His guidance, so that she should never be -deceived in proposing anything to our belief that was not true -and had not been revealed by Him, then of course, not only is the -Catholic Church right upon this point, but also of necessity -right upon every other point also.”—P. 6.</p> -<p>“The Protestant professes that the only sure way of -knowing God’s will is for every man to read the Holy -Scriptures for himself. I take up the Holy Scriptures, -therefore, for this purpose, and I find there that our Lord -appointed, and the apostles practised, quite another way of -learning God’s will and the right road to heaven. I -find that our Lord sent, not a message, but messengers; not a -book for men to read, but apostles for men to obey; and in like -manner I find that the apostles do say not a word about the -necessity of not believing anything that is not written in a -certain book, but on the contrary, that they distinctly say, -Believe all that you have been taught, whether written or -unwritten.”—P. 9.</p> -<p>“It is plain that our Lord did not use the words, -‘Search the Scriptures,’ in the sense in which the -Protestants use them. He did not refer His hearers to the -Scriptures in the same way that the Protestant refers you. -For if so, why did they need His further teaching? He made -the same use of the Scriptures as Catholics do in speaking to -Protestants at this day. The Catholic says to Protestants, -<a name="page23"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -23</span>‘Search the Scriptures,’ for these are they -which testify of the Church as well as of her Head. They -expressly command you to ‘hear the Church’ (St. Matt, -xviii. 17).”—P. 11.</p> -<p>“A Catholic priest at the present day might follow the -example of St. Paul, and show that Jesus whom he preached was -Christ; that the Church which he preached to them was in very -deed the society to which such high and noble privileges were -promised in Holy Scripture. And every one who should give -heed to his preaching in the same way as the Bereans did, would -not fail to meet with the same reward. He also would -‘believe;’ believe not only the one doctrine which -had been thus proved to him from Holy Scripture, viz. that the -Church was the appointed teacher of mankind, but also every other -doctrine which the same teacher might propose to his belief, -whether written in the Holy Bible or not.”—P. 14.</p> -</blockquote> -<p>Extract from another tract, entitled, “<i>The -Church</i>, <i>the Guardian of Scripture</i>, or, <i>How does the -Bible come to us</i>?”</p> -<blockquote><p>“People are apt to think of the Bible, as if -it were a whole without parts, indivisible, self-existent, in -short, a kind of divinity; or, at least, as if it had come down -from heaven precisely such as we now have it, ready bound to our -hands, if not with the Bible Society’s stamp upon -it.”—P. 7.</p> -</blockquote> -<p>Extract from another tract, entitled, “<i>The Rosary of -the Blessed Virgin Mary</i>, or, <i>The use of the Beads no vain -Repetition</i>.”</p> -<blockquote><p>“Perhaps you find something that shocks you -in the fact of the ‘Hail Mary’ being repeated so much -oftener than the Lord’s Prayer; and it may be that there is -in this a fresh instance of that unhappy creature-worship which -disfigures every part of the Catholic religion. Now do not -suppose that the reason of this is, that we consider prayers -addressed to the Blessed Virgin better than prayers addressed to -God. We do certainly think her prayers for us are better, -and more likely to be heard and answered than our own; because we -know that she was ever perfectly free from all stain of guilt, -and is now nearest to God in glory; and we feel ourselves full of -the defilement of sin.”—P. 10.</p> -<p><a name="page24"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -24</span>“Christ has entered into His kingdom, and His -saints are reigning with Him. Which of them shall be -nearest to Him in glory as once in suffering, but her through -whom He joined our human nature to Deity itself? The -anguish over, the grace and virtue crowned, the glory never to -pass away; surely, well may we again call the Queen of Heaven, -‘Blessed among women!’ and more than ever trusting in -the power of her intercession, more than ever call on her, -‘Holy Mary, mother of God! pray for us sinners, now, and at -the hour of death.’”—P. 14.</p> -<p style="text-align: center">SECOND AND FOURTH OF THE FIVE -SORROWFUL MYSTERIES.</p> -<p>“2d. The scourging of our Blessed Lord, at the -pillar by soldiers, in Pilate’s house; the number of -stripes they gave him being above five thousand.</p> -<p>“4th. The carrying of the Cross; in which our Lord -Jesus Christ, being sentenced to die, bears with most amazing -patience the cross which is laid upon Him for His greater torment -and ignominy, meeting His blessed mother by the way.”</p> -<p style="text-align: center">FOURTH AND FIFTH OF THE FIVE -GLORIOUS MYSTERIES.</p> -<p>“4th. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin; in -which after her death, twelve years after the Resurrection, she -is assumed into heaven by her Divine Son accompanied by the holy -angels.</p> -<p>“5th. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin; in -which, amid the great jubilee and exultation of the whole court -of heaven, and to the particular glory of all the saints, she is -crowned by her Son with the brightest diadem of -glory.”—P. 16.</p> -</blockquote> -<p>Extracts from a tract, entitled, “<i>Our Parish Churches -as they were and as they are</i>. 1. <i>Old stones tell -tales</i>.”</p> -<blockquote><p>“I declare, it seems to me that the very -idea of worship has almost died out in England. Do you -think that if people really felt they were speaking to Almighty -God, they would sit at their ease, or look over a book, and never -do more? Church of Englandism has such a <i>comfortable</i> -look about it; it is the religion of people well to do in the -world, and have too much business to transact to turn their minds -thoroughly to anything else. It is a <i>one day a week</i> -religion. Every thing about it is so formal, so decent, <a -name="page25"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 25</span>so sober, so -proper and respectable. It would look so odd to seem in -earnest; to be on your knees in prayer before so many -well-dressed people, as though you had a soul to be saved. -Church of Englandism is such a human thing; it smacks so much of -the world and of ‘good society.’ It makes a -poor man feel awkward, just as he does when he finds himself in a -gentleman’s drawing-room.”—P. 10.</p> -<p>“The Church of England would never have built such -churches, though it is very proud of them now it has got them, -and lately has taken to making a few others in imitation of the -old ones. People never seem to think of this. They -are always bragging about their fine old parish churches, and -their venerable cathedrals, and all the while they were built by -the Papists, as they call them; and if it had not been for the -Papists they would never have had them to brag of. The -sparrow stole into the martin’s nest, and said, See what a -nice warm house I have got. He couldn’t say he had -<i>made</i> it, but he was quite as cocky as if he -had.”—P. 11.</p> -<p>“‘And what is this?’ said I again; and I -pointed at a curious sort of niche with a hole at the bottom of -it. ‘That,’ said he, ‘is a -<i>piscina</i>; it was for pouring the water away after the -priest had washed his hands.’ ‘Why should he -wash his hands,’ said I, ‘more than our -ministers?’ ‘Because,’ said Peter, -‘he had to touch the body of the Lord, and to lift Him up, -as when He was raised on the cross. And your ministers have -no need to wash theirs, because they have not got the body of our -Lord there at all.’”—p. 14.</p> -<p>“‘What was the use of saying mass for him,’ -said I, ‘when he was dead and buried?’ Peter -smiled, and answered, ‘It is said in the Scriptures, that -it is a good and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, and it -certainly must be so.’”—P. 15.</p> -</blockquote> -<p>Extracts from a tract, entitled, “<i>The Church of our -Fathers</i>.”</p> -<blockquote><p>“St. Peter, the prince of the apostles, to -whom our Lord himself gave the name of Peter, which signifies a -rock, and told him at the same time that on that rock He would -build His Church, and that the gates of hell should not prevail -against it,—this same Peter went to Rome and <a -name="page26"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 26</span>became its -Bishop; and from that time the Church of Rome, as being the See -of St. Peter, has ever been looked upon by the faithful as the -mother and mistress of all churches, and each of his successors -in turn as the visible head of the Church on -earth.”—P. 5.</p> -<p>“It is generally believed that Caractacus settled in -Rome with his family; that his daughter was called Claudia, and -that she married a noble Roman called Pudens, who, together with -herself, afterwards became Christian; that they had a daughter -who was afterwards celebrated as a saint under the name of St. -Pudentiana; and that this Pudens and Claudia, whom St. Paul -mentions in his Epistle to Timothy (2 Tim. iv. 21), were no other -than these. It is said also that this noble British -household gave shelter and hospitality to St. Peter, while he -lived as Bishop in Rome; a retired room in the house being set -apart as his chapel. A church was afterwards built on the -site of this house, which having been since twice rebuilt, is -still known by the name of St. Pudentiana; and it is this church -which, from its connexion with the history of our country, has -been assigned to Cardinal Wiseman as the church from which he -takes his title.”—P. 7.</p> -<p>“Several miracles attended the death of this our first -martyr (Alban). When on his way to death, he came to a -river which divided the town from the hill where he was to -suffer; the people thronged the bridge over it in such multitudes -that he feared he should not be able to pass all that day, and -longing for his crown, raised his eyes to heaven and -prayed. And God straightway divided the waters as for His -people of old, so that he walked through dryshod.”—P. -9.</p> -<p>“The next thing that we hear of the Church in Britain -is, that two bishops from Gaul, Germanus and Lupus, were sent -over here to preach to the people, many of whom had been -perverted by false teachers; but all gladly listened to the -preaching of these holy bishops, and returned to the way of -truth. They were the more easily persuaded, because the -preaching of these men was also accompanied by the working of -miracles. After a public conference, in which the heretics -had been completely put to silence by the eloquence of the -bishops, an officer in the Roman army stepped forward with his -little daughter who was blind, <a name="page27"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 27</span>and begged that they would bestow -such relief upon her as they were able. The bishops desired -him to try first the powers of those false teachers who had been -just now disputing against them. But these declined the -trial, and united with the officer in begging her cure at the -hands of Germanus and Lupus. Upon this Germanus offered up -a short prayer, and invoking the Holy Trinity, pulled from his -bosom a little box of relics which he always carried about -him. This he applied to the girl’s eyes, and her -sight was immediately restored.”—Pp. 9, 10.</p> -</blockquote> -<p>Extracts from a tract, entitled, “<i>How Antichrist -keeps Christmas</i>; or, <i>A Peep at Christmas in a Catholic -country</i>.”</p> -<blockquote><p>“It is true, indeed, that Christmas is a -festival of such universal gladness, as to thaw for a moment even -the icy heart of Protestantism; sending a ray of joyousness down -into the cold depths of the population of this country, where all -is so smooth and smiling on the surface, all so chill and joyless -underneath. At Christmas I really believe a thrill of -gladness darts through the heart of the great majority of the -people. Churches and chapels are made gay with shining -leaves and scarlet berries; carols are sung in the streets; the -words, ‘A merry Christmas to you!’ pass from mouth to -mouth; and beef and pudding, the outward form which joy is wont -to put on in this cold, hungry climate, smoke on many a board to -which, alas! for every other day in the year they are utter -strangers. Nay, it is to be hoped that even in union -workhouses there is an intermission of gruel for Christmas -day.”—Pp. 4, 5.</p> -<p>“Abundant food is a necessity of our climate, and a -condition of our physical well-being to a degree that the people -of the South cannot understand. We are told of our Saxon -forefathers, whom I have before mentioned, that their frames, -though so tall and well-formed, were neither so patient of labour -nor of hunger as might be expected from their apparent -strength. Alas! for the necessity which grinds down our -poor to the endurance of both to such a hurtful degree. But -to return to Christmas. The difference between Catholic and -Protestant Christmas is this, that both love Christmas, but -Catholics love it far more distinctly and consciously for -Christ’s sake. The very <a name="page28"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 28</span>name of the festival is theirs, -Christ’s Mass; to Protestants one part of the word has -confessedly lost its meaning, and the other is a dim -vision. Look at the professedly religious part of the -observance of this feast, and see what it amounts to. In -the churches of the English establishment, except the holly -boughs, what is there to tell of the Lord’s birth? Of -course the lesson from Scripture recounting that event is read; -so also are certain Psalms which prophetically relate to it; and -a sermon on the Nativity is (sometimes) preached. But -otherwise the ordinary routine of the service goes on the same as -usual. ‘Dearly beloved brethren,’ holds on the -even tenour of its way, with dulness scarcely mitigated; and -there is really nothing either peculiarly to draw out the -devotion of those assisting at it towards their infant Lord, nor, -which is more to our present purpose, any special outpouring of -such devotion on the part of the Church herself.”—P. -6.</p> -</blockquote> -<h3>Note B. (P. 17.)</h3> -<p>It is hoped that the following brief summary of the leading -doctrines held by the two Churches of England and Rome, with the -authorities on which they respectively rest, may prove useful to -some of the readers of these pages, whether as promoting their -inquiry, or confirming their faith.</p> -<p><i>Doctrines maintained by the Members of the Church of -England and of the Church of Rome</i>, <i>with the authorities -claimed by each in their support</i>.</p> -<table> -<tr> -<td><p style="text-align: center">CHURCH OF ENGLAND.</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: center">CHURCH OF ROME.</p> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><p style="text-align: center">I.</p> -<p>Holy Scripture containeth all things that are necessary to -salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be -proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should -be believed as an article of the faith, or be thought requisite -or necessary to salvation.—6<i>th</i> <i>Article of -Religion</i>. See Deut. iv. 2; Isa. viii. 20; Rom. xv. 4; 2 -Tim. iii. 15–17; Rev. xxii. 8.</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: center">I.</p> -<p>All saving truth is not contained in the Holy Scripture, but -partly in Scripture and partly in unwritten traditions, which -whosoever doth not receive with like piety and reverence as he -doth the Scriptures, is accursed. If any one doth not -receive all these books (<i>viz. the apocryphal mixed with the -genuine and canonical books</i>), with every part of them as they -used to be read in the Catholic Church, and as they are contained -in the ancient vulgar Latin edition, for holy and canonical, and -shall knowingly contemn the aforesaid traditions, let him be -accursed—<i>Decrees of the Council of Trent</i>.</p> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><p style="text-align: center"><a name="page29"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 29</span>II.</p> -<p>We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of -our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by faith, and not for our own -works or deservings.—11<i>th</i> <i>Article of -Religion</i>. See Ps. cxliii. 2; Luke xvii. 10; Rom. iii. -22–24, 27, 28.</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: center">II.</p> -<p>If any man shall say that the good works of a justified man -are in such sense the gifts of God, that they are not also his -worthy merits; or that he, being justified by his good works, -which are wrought by him through the grace of God and the merits -of Jesus Christ, of whom he is a living member, does not really -deserve increase of grace, eternal life, the enjoyment of that -eternal life, if he dies in a state of grace, and even an -increase of glory, let him be accursed.—<i>Decrees of the -Council of Trent</i>.</p> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><p style="text-align: center">III.</p> -<p>The offering of Christ once made is that perfect redemption, -propitiation, and satisfaction, for all the sins of the whole -world, both original and actual; and there is none other -satisfaction for sin, but that alone.—31<i>st</i> -<i>Article of Religion</i>. Gal. iii. 13; Heb. vii. 26, 27; -ix. 12, 22, 24–28; x. 14; 1 John iii. 1, 2.</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: center">III.</p> -<p>If any one say that in the mass there is not a true and proper -sacrifice offered unto God; or, that to be offered is nothing -else but for Christ to be given us to eat, let him be -accursed!—<i>Decrees of the Council of Trent</i>.</p> -<p>I further profess, that in the mass is offered to God a true, -proper, and propitiatory sacrifice for the quick and -dead.—<i>Creed of Pope Pius IV</i>.</p> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><p style="text-align: center">IV.</p> -<p>The Romish doctrine concerning purgatory, pardons, -worshipping, and adoration, as well of images as of reliques, and -also invocation of saints, is a fond thing vainly invented, and -grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to -the word of God.—22<i>d</i> <i>Article of -Religion</i>. <i>Texts opposed to the doctrine of -purgatory</i>: Eccl. ix. 5, 6; Isa. xxxviii. 18; St. Luke xxiii. -43; Heb. ix. 27; Rev. xiv. 13. <i>Texts opposed to the -doctrines of the worship of images and the invocation of -saints</i>: St. Matt. iv. 10; Acts iv. 12; x. 25; 1 Cor. <a -name="page30"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 30</span>iii. 11; 1 -Tim. ii. 5, 6; 1 John ii. 1, 2.</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: center">IV.</p> -<p>It is lawful to represent God and the Holy Trinity by images; -and the images and relics of Christ and the saints are to be duly -honoured, venerated, and worshipped. And in this veneration -and worship those are venerated which are represented by -them.—<i>Decrees of the Council of Trent</i>.</p> -<p>I most firmly assert that the images of Christ and of the -Mother of God, who was always a virgin, are to be had and -retained; and that due honour and worship are to be given to -them.—<i>Creed of Pope Pius IV</i>.</p> -<p>I constantly hold that there is a purgatory; and that the -souls detained there are assisted by the prayers of the -faithful.—<i>Creed of Pope Pius IV</i>.</p> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><p style="text-align: center">V.</p> -<p>There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the -Gospel; that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the -Lord. Those five commonly called Sacraments, that is to -say, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and Extreme -Unction, are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel, -being such as have grown partly of the corrupt following of the -apostles, partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures; -but yet have not like nature of Sacraments with Baptism and the -Lord’s Supper, for that they have not any visible sign or -ceremony ordained of God.—25<i>th</i> <i>Article of -Religion</i>. St. Matt. xxviii. 19; xxvi. 26; St. Mark xiv. -22; St. Luke xxii. 19, 20; 1 Cor. xi. 24.</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: center">V.</p> -<p>Whosoever shall affirm that the Sacraments of the New Law were -not all instituted by Jesus Christ our Lord; or that they are -more or fewer than seven; or that any of them is not truly and -properly a sacrament, let him be accursed.—<i>Decrees of -the Council of Trent</i>.</p> -<p>I profess also that there are truly and properly seven -Sacraments of the New Law instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ, -and necessary for the salvation of all men, (though not all of -them to every one,) viz. Baptism, Confirmation, the Lord’s -Supper, Penance, Extreme Unction, Orders, and -Matrimony.—<i>Creed of Pope Pius IV</i>.</p> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><p style="text-align: center">VI.</p> -<p>It is a thing plainly repugnant to the word of God, and the -custom of the primitive Church, to have public prayer in the -Church, or to minister the Sacraments in a tongue not -understanded of the people.—24<i>th</i> <i>Article of -Religion</i>. 1 Cor. xiv. 3, 6, 14, 16, 19.</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: center">VI.</p> -<p>Although the mass contain great instruction for the faithful -people; yet it has not appeared expedient to the Fathers, that it -should be everywhere celebrated in the vulgar -tongue.—<i>Decrees of the Council of Trent</i>.</p> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><p style="text-align: center">VII.</p> -<p>The cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the lay people: for -both the parts of the Lord’s Sacrament, by Christ’s -ordinance and commandment, ought to be ministered to all -Christian men alike.—30<i>th</i> <i>Article of -Religion</i>. St. Matt. xxvi. 26–28; 1 Cor. xi. -28.</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: center">VII.</p> -<p>Whosoever shall affirm that all and every one of -Christ’s faithful are bound by divine command to partake -the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist in both kinds as -necessary to salvation, let him be accursed.—<i>Decrees of -the Council of Trent</i>.</p> -<p>I confess also, that under one kind only is received the whole -and entire Christ, and the true Sacrament.—<i>Creed of Pope -Pius IV</i>.</p> -</td> -</tr> -</table> -<h3><a name="page31"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 31</span>Note -C. (P. 17.)</h3> -<p>It is confidently believed by those persons who are most -familiarly acquainted with the state of the property adjacent to -the new Romish Church, that within a very few years nearly the -whole of it will be covered with new buildings. And it is -so far removed from the churches and National schools at Fulham -and Walham Green, where the population has also increased of late -very considerably, that it is easy to foresee the necessity which -will arise for some new provision for the spiritual instruction -of such a district, growing up nearly in the centre of the parish -of Fulham. In such cases, all experience teaches that it is -far wiser to anticipate the measures that may be required for -meeting the exigency, than to adopt them after it has -occurred. And the Vicar, therefore, deems the present a -suitable opportunity for making it known, that the promise has -been secured of a most eligible piece of land, near the locality -here described, and containing rather more than the third of an -acre, which would be well calculated, either now or hereafter, -for the erection of school-rooms, or a church adapted to the -wants of this growing population. The owner of the land, -knowing the important object for which it has been wished to -obtain it, has liberally consented to accept a price considerably -below that which its marketable value would command, and the -Bishop of London has kindly given his sanction to the -measure. To those persons whose interest in the spiritual -edification of their poorer neighbours may induce them to promote -it, the Vicar will be thankful to afford any information that may -be wished, in reference to this object, and to receive from them -any amount of pecuniary assistance that will be needed to meet -the expense, which of course must be considerable.</p> -<h3>Note D. (P. 18.)</h3> -<p>To those members of the congregation at All Saints, who have -not yet introduced into their families the practice of domestic -prayer, and who may possibly feel the want of some suggestions as -to the books best adapted for conducting it, the Vicar would -desire to recommend one or <a name="page32"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 32</span>other of the following publications, -according as they may find them most eligible for their own -use. The different prices named would bring the books -within the means of every class of his people; and he ventures to -urge the adoption of the practice equally upon all.</p> -<table> -<tr> -<td></td> -<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>s.</i></p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>d.</i></p> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><p>Bishop of London’s Manual of Family Prayer, from -1<i>d.</i> to</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">1</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">0</p> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><p>Family Prayers, by the late H. Thornton, Esq., M.P.</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">3</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">0</p> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><p>Family Prayers, by the late W. Wilberforce, Esq.</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">1</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">6</p> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><p>The Churchman’s Book of Family Prayer, by the Rev. -J. H. Swainson, Rector of Alresford</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">1</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">6</p> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><p>A Manual of Prayer for Family and Private Devotion, by the -Rev. C. A. Heurtley</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">0</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">1</p> -</td> -</tr> -</table> -<h3>Note E. (P. 19.)</h3> -<p>At a time when books of the most valuable and interesting -character are published at prices far below any former precedent, -it seems to be little less than the duty of every master of a -Christian household to furnish to his servants a collection, -however limited, of such works as would be at once most useful -and acceptable to them, which a few shillings annually would -serve to keep up or to extend. The Vicar would wish to -recommend <i>The Churchman’s Monthly Magazine</i> as one -publication, which might, in any case, be added with advantage to -such a library. It has now extended to five small volumes, -and is continued periodically.</p> - -<div class="gapshortline"> </div> -<p style="text-align: center"><i>The following Table shows the -result of the former decennial inquiries into the population of -the parish of Fulham</i>:</p> -<table> -<tr> -<td></td> -<td colspan='3'><p style="text-align: center">NUMBER OF -HOUSES.</p> -</td> -<td style='vertical-align: middle' rowspan='2'><p -style="text-align: center"><i>Males</i>.</p> -</td> -<td style='vertical-align: middle' rowspan='2'><p -style="text-align: center"><i>Females</i>.</p> -</td> -<td style='vertical-align: middle' rowspan='2'><p -style="text-align: center"><i>Total</i>.</p> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td></td> -<td><p style="text-align: center"><i>Occupied</i>.</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: center"><i>Empty</i>.</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: center"><i>Building</i>.</p> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><p>1801</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">723</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">15</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">. . .</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">2086</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">2334</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">4420</p> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><p>1811</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">885</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">14</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">15</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">2714</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">3189</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">5903</p> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><p>1821</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">987</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">46</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">13</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">2949</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">3542</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">6491</p> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><p>1831</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">1163</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">111</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">52</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">3432</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">3885</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">7317</p> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><p>1841</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">1441</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">52</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">9</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">4189</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">5230</p> -</td> -<td><p style="text-align: right">9419</p> -</td> -</tr> -</table> -<p style="text-align: center"><span class="GutSmall">R. CLAY, -PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL.</span></p> -<h2>FOOTNOTES.</h2> -<p><a name="footnote3"></a><a href="#citation3" -class="footnote">[3]</a> 1 Sam. xvii. 34, 35.</p> -<p><a name="footnote4a"></a><a href="#citation4a" -class="footnote">[4a]</a> 1 Sam. xvii. 50.</p> -<p><a name="footnote4b"></a><a href="#citation4b" -class="footnote">[4b]</a> 1 Cor. i. 28, 29.</p> -<p><a name="footnote4c"></a><a href="#citation4c" -class="footnote">[4c]</a> 2 Sam. xxiv. 3, 4.</p> -<p><a name="footnote7a"></a><a href="#citation7a" -class="footnote">[7a]</a> Gal. vi. 2.</p> -<p><a name="footnote7b"></a><a href="#citation7b" -class="footnote">[7b]</a> Eph. iv. 25.</p> -<p><a name="footnote7c"></a><a href="#citation7c" -class="footnote">[7c]</a> 1 Pet. iii. 7.</p> -<p><a name="footnote8a"></a><a href="#citation8a" -class="footnote">[8a]</a> Psalm xc. 10.</p> -<p><a name="footnote8b"></a><a href="#citation8b" -class="footnote">[8b]</a> Acts xvii. 28.</p> -<p><a name="footnote8c"></a><a href="#citation8c" -class="footnote">[8c]</a> Col. i. 27.</p> -<p><a name="footnote9a"></a><a href="#citation9a" -class="footnote">[9a]</a> James i. 21.</p> -<p><a name="footnote9b"></a><a href="#citation9b" -class="footnote">[9b]</a> Matt. iii. 7.</p> -<p><a name="footnote9c"></a><a href="#citation9c" -class="footnote">[9c]</a> John v. 40.</p> -<p><a name="footnote9d"></a><a href="#citation9d" -class="footnote">[9d]</a> John vi. 37.</p> -<p><a name="footnote9e"></a><a href="#citation9e" -class="footnote">[9e]</a> Gen. vi. 3.</p> -<p><a name="footnote9f"></a><a href="#citation9f" -class="footnote">[9f]</a> Heb. iv. 9.</p> -<p><a name="footnote10a"></a><a href="#citation10a" -class="footnote">[10a]</a> Psalm xxxix. 12.</p> -<p><a name="footnote10b"></a><a href="#citation10b" -class="footnote">[10b]</a> Heb. xi. 16.</p> -<p><a name="footnote10c"></a><a href="#citation10c" -class="footnote">[10c]</a> 1 Pet. iv. 18.</p> -<p><a name="footnote10d"></a><a href="#citation10d" -class="footnote">[10d]</a> Prov. xiv. 9.</p> -<p><a name="footnote10e"></a><a href="#citation10e" -class="footnote">[10e]</a> Philip, iii. 19.</p> -<p><a name="footnote10f"></a><a href="#citation10f" -class="footnote">[10f]</a> Heb. vi. 6.</p> -<p><a name="footnote11a"></a><a href="#citation11a" -class="footnote">[11a]</a> Acts v. 15.</p> -<p><a name="footnote11b"></a><a href="#citation11b" -class="footnote">[11b]</a> Gen. iii. 19.</p> -<p><a name="footnote12a"></a><a href="#citation12a" -class="footnote">[12a]</a> 2 Pet. i. 10.</p> -<p><a name="footnote12b"></a><a href="#citation12b" -class="footnote">[12b]</a> 1 Cor. vii. 29–31.</p> -<p><a name="footnote13"></a><a href="#citation13" -class="footnote">[13]</a> 2 Sam. xxiv. 14.</p> -<p><a name="footnote14a"></a><a href="#citation14a" -class="footnote">[14a]</a> Isaiah xxiii. 8.</p> -<p><a name="footnote14b"></a><a href="#citation14b" -class="footnote">[14b]</a> Deut. iv. 6.</p> -<p><a name="footnote17a"></a><a href="#citation17a" -class="footnote">[17a]</a> See Note A.</p> -<p><a name="footnote17b"></a><a href="#citation17b" -class="footnote">[17b]</a> Heb. x. 23.</p> -<p><a name="footnote17c"></a><a href="#citation17c" -class="footnote">[17c]</a> See Note B.</p> -<p><a name="footnote17d"></a><a href="#citation17d" -class="footnote">[17d]</a> See Note C.</p> -<p><a name="footnote18a"></a><a href="#citation18a" -class="footnote">[18a]</a> See Note D.</p> -<p><a name="footnote18b"></a><a href="#citation18b" -class="footnote">[18b]</a> Isa. lviii. 13.</p> -<p><a name="footnote19a"></a><a href="#citation19a" -class="footnote">[19a]</a> See Note E.</p> -<p><a name="footnote19b"></a><a href="#citation19b" -class="footnote">[19b]</a> Address to the Sponsors at the -close of the Office of Baptism.</p> -<p><a name="footnote20a"></a><a href="#citation20a" -class="footnote">[20a]</a> Rev. x. 6.</p> -<p><a name="footnote20b"></a><a href="#citation20b" -class="footnote">[20b]</a> Rev. xx. 13. (See the -marginal reading.)</p> -<p><a name="footnote20c"></a><a href="#citation20c" -class="footnote">[20c]</a> 1 Cor. i. 21.</p> -<p><a name="footnote20d"></a><a href="#citation20d" -class="footnote">[20d]</a> 1 Thess. iv. 16.</p> -<p><a name="footnote20e"></a><a href="#citation20e" -class="footnote">[20e]</a> Eph. v. 15, 16.</p> -<p><a name="footnote20f"></a><a href="#citation20f" -class="footnote">[20f]</a> Rev. vii. 9.</p> -<p><a name="footnote20g"></a><a href="#citation20g" -class="footnote">[20g]</a> Rev. iv. 11.</p> -<pre> - - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SPIRITUAL IMPROVEMENT OF THE -CENSUS*** - - -***** This file should be named 64879-h.htm or 64879-h.zip****** - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/4/8/7/64879 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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