Church history in general, that there have always been bishops in the Church. Therefore, even should we judge that the text of Scripture is not absolutely imperative as to the necessity of that mode of government, yet the universal tradition of the Church concurring with what we do find in Scripture, renders the institution of the episcopate so obviously right, and so strong an evidence is afforded that it was the very system ordained from the first by the Apostles, that to depart from it argues a most sinful presumptuousness. When we know from the universal tradition of Church History that a thing has been practised from the beginning-as, to name another instance, the observance of the Lord's day as a weekly festival, or the practice of infant baptism,-we conclude that it received the Apostles' sanction."

Mr. L. "I see from these instances, that some traditions are most valuable; and though not of the same absolute authority as the word of God, yet that the probability of their indicating God's will is so great, that it must be very sinful to reject them. What is the reason of all the disputes which have arisen in the present day about tradition ?”

Mr. M. "Nothing more than this,—that wilful men chose to have their own way: one sect will not have bishops; another will not have infant baptism; another denies the Godhead of the Son; and so, because the universal tradition of the Church condemns them, they cry out that tradition is of no value, and then proceed to explain away the texts of Scripture which make against them, declaring that they have as much right to judge of the sense of Scripture as the Church universal. It is of no avail to tell these persons, or

even to prove to them, that ine Church has always held a certain doctrine, and adopted a certain practice ; and to show them that such doctrine or practice is borne out by Scripture. They prefer their own

judgment, and so become schismatics."

Your ex

Mr. L. "But there are few in the present day who actually leave the Church, in comparison with those who have been bred and born in schism. planation seems to refer to the former only, or at least principally."

Mr. M. "It does so. The case of those who are bred and born in schism is different. The truth is, that these men live in a tradition of their own sect; they suffer for the sins of their fathers; they are schismatics by birth; they have got, as it were, into a wrong track, and have not the leisure or inclination to retrace their steps. But here we revert to our former position, that there are bad traditions, which we ought to leave; and good, which we ought to follow. It is the duty of these men, as it is the duty of all Christians, to ascertain, when they have the means, whether the faith in which they have been nurtured is the true faith of the Church of Christ. While they are children, we trust that, though laboring under disadvantage, they incur no actual sin. The Jewish child was not responsible for the evil tradition in which he was nurtured; but when he came to man's estate, he became responsible; for the Scripture, and various other sources of information, were open to him, whereby he might have tested whether the tradition was or was not good. So I conceive it to be the duty of every man to be ready to give a reason for the faith which is in him. The Socinian should inquire

whether his interpretation of Scripture is that which was held from the beginning; and he will find on inquiry, that, at the Council of Nice, his doctrine was condemned by the universal Church. The dissenter is bound to ascertain whether his discipline is according to the tradition of the Church; and he will find, that for 1500 years no such discipline was heard of. The Romanist, in like manner, will find that many of his doctrines and practices are of comparatively recent origin, and unknown to the ancient Church, as they are repugnant to the word of God.

"You are, I trust, now prepared to acknowledge the value of tradition. If men take the Bible alone, it is evident, from experience, that they will fall into most pernicious errors: for this simple reason, that they will not interpret it aright. If they are content to receive the tradition in which they have been born, they are still liable to error. The children of Socinians are bred and born in the false tradition of Socinius; Wesleyans in the tradition of Wesley; Papists in the traditions of popery. All these, more or less, make the law and the gospel of none effect through their human tradition. But let them go by the tradition of the Church; let them receive those great truths which have been held from the beginning as the true interpretation of Scripture, and that form of discipline which the universal Church, for a long course of centuries, has upheld; let them reject the novelties of Popery, and the still more recent novelties of Dissent, all of which can be proved to have sprung up in comparatively modern days, and there is a chance of the Church being once more united in

one. At all events, individuals so acting have the surest hope of attaining truth."

This conversation with Mr. Manwaring quite satisfied me. It proved the great value and importance of tradition in enabling us to know the true will of God. It pointed out a safe and sure path; while, at the same time, it did not in the slightest degree trench on the paramount authority of Scripture as the standard of faith.

CHAPTER XI.

Oft have I seen, ere time had ploughed my cheek,
Matrons and sires, who, punctual to the call

Of their loved Church, on fast and festival,

Through the long year the house of prayer would seek.

Is ancient piety for ever flown?

Alas! even then they seemed like fleecy clouds,

That, struggling through the western sky, have won
Their pensive light from a departing sun.

WORDSWORTH.

VALUE OF CHURCH ORDINANCES.

Mr. L. "The account which you give of tradition," I continued, "does not appear to include those spoken of in the 39th Article, where we read-'It is not necessary that traditions and ceremonies be in all places one and utterly like; for in all places they have been diverse, and may be changed according to the diversities of countries, times, and new manners, so that nothing be ordained against God's word.' The word 'tradition' seems here scarcely to have the same meaning as that to which we have adverted."

Mr. M. "Perhaps another word would have been more suitable. Yet I think it will fall under the head of things handed down from those before us. Each person finds himself a member of a Church in which certain usages and customs are observed, having been handed down from generations before him, and there