THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND AND DISSENT, AN ARTICLE CORRECTED AND ENLARGED FROM THE 48th No. OF THE BRITISH REVIEW. BY JOHN CAWOOD, M. A. OF ST. EDMUND HALL, OXFORD, AND PERPETUAL CURATE OF BEWDLEY. SECOND EDITION, WITH ADDITIONS. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY L. B. SEELEY AND SONS: 169, FLEET STREET. 1831. 1235.0.5 ADVERTISEMENT. FROM the first appearance of the following Article in the British Review, in 1825, repeated requests have been made for its separate publication. These requests have been hitherto withstood, in hope that some far abler defenders of the Church of England would arise. But though our Church, during the last five years, has been, more than ever, assailed by every form of dissent, and by every kind of infidelity, no defenders have arisen. Besides; it has been distinctly stated to the Publishers, that, unless the Article were with consent, published separately, it would forthwith, without consent, be so published. Two thousand copies, we have just heard, have been printed, and all gratuitously distributed. Nothing, therefore, remained but carefully to revise it for separate publication.-Sincerely is it hoped that there is not in its spirit any thing unchristian, in its style any thing uncourteous, in its principles any thing unscriptural, or in its reasonings any thing unsound.-Fervently, too, is it to be wished, that this little defence was such as it ought to be, or was in any degree worthy of "the most scriptural Church in Christendom ;"-but, such as it is, it is cordially presented to "THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND." AUGUST, 1830. ADVERTISEMENT TO THE SECOND EDITION. FOUR years after the Review of the second edition of "Christian Fellowship," a third edition, which seemed an exact reprint of the second, was published. In this third edition, no concessions" were made, "no alterations" were specified, no withdrawments" were announced; but, the type and size of the book were so changed, that the passages, quoted in "the Review" from the second edition could not easily be found. Besides; of the great multitude of quoted passages, some had been so silently altered, some so quietly withdrawn, that the reader might suspect that the pages of "Christian Fellowship" had been grossly misquoted, and designedly falsified. On reference, however, to the second edition, all these numerous quotations will, it is believed, be found perfectly correct. In reviewing a volume, written by a Christian Minister, with the attractive title of "CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP," it was extremely painful to find the Church of England, not only denounced as unscriptural, corrupt, and popish;" but denounced with such bombastic flippancy, with such sarcastic bitterness, with such unseemly and unfeeling jocularity. It was extremely painful to find a Christian Minister, not only publishing the most unfounded and unkind charges against the most scriptural church in Christendom; but recommending these false charges, as essential verities to young, inexperienced, and ingenuous dissenters, who would, probably, never see these charges refuted! It was extremely painful to find a Christian Minister, in a tone the most arrogant, and in terms the most unchristian, but under the guise of "Christian Fellowship," exciting in the young, and confirming in the old, the bitterest enmity against their fellow Christians of the Church of England! It was extremely painful to discover a Christian Minister, in ignorance, or in haste, misrepresenting our Scriptural Liturgy, and misquoting the Holy Scriptures! Let it, therefore, be remembered, that, in the following pages, we are not, unprovoked, eagerly attacking Dissent; but only, after long, and multiplied provocations, too tardily defending the Church of England. Let it be remembered, that the charges against our Scriptural Church are as unfounded in fact, as they are unkind in spirit! Let it be remembered, that these unfounded and unkind charges are contained in a volume, which bears the title, not of "Sectarian Illiberality," but of "Christian Fellowship!" Let it be remembered, that the author of these charges, abundantly fident of their truth," (p. 16.) and utterly insensible to the vituperations of episcopal bigots," ," "demands "and" defies the severest scrutiny" of his opponents. Let it, finally, be remembered, that the author of these unfounded, and unkind charges, not only declares" that he is TOO PROUD to ask for mercy on his mental offspring; " but loudly boasts that "he has enough of ROMAN VIRTUE to consent to the execution of his literary child!" con "The Church of England," says he, "teaches that all who die go to heaven, WHATEVER WAS THEIR PREVIOUS CHARACTER!" (p. 15.) "The Church of England retains MANY OF THE CORRUPTIONS OF HER RELATIVE AT ROME." (p. 146.) "The Papacy, and the EPISCOPACY, WITH EVERY OTHER ECCLESIASTICAL CORRUPTION," &c. (p. 184.) "See the office of the Visitation of the Sick, than which the MASS BOOK SCARCELY CONTAINS ANY THING MORE OBJECTIONABLE! (p. 16, note.) 'We have examined these special reasons for dissent OURSELVES, and we wish others to investigate them also. them the SEVEREST TRUTH!!" (p. 16.) We offer them to the public, and invite for SCRUTINY, BEING CONFIDENT OF THEIR "In sending another of his mental offspring to be tried at the bar of criticism he is, shall he say? Too proud, to ask that it may obtain MERCY ;—the only message, which he sends with it to the scrutiny is, Fiat Justitia! If it be doomed to execution -however its PARENT might lament that he had given birth to a child that was unworthy to live, he has still ENOUGH OF ROMAN VIRTUE to consent to its death!!" (vii.) "To the charge of schism preferred against us BY EPISCOPALIAN BIGOTS with such vituperation,- -we are as insensible as one human being can be to the accusations of another!!" (p. 239.) BEWDLEY, FEB. 25, 1831. 1 Roman virtue.-See Rom. i, 29-31. "Being proud, despiteful, boasters, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful." THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND AND DISSENT. 1. Christian Fellowship; or the Church Member's Guide. By J. A. James. Second Edition. Pp. x. 264. 2. Reasons for Dissent from the Church of England. By the late Rev. Samuel Lowell. Pp. ix. 47. "CHRISTIAN Fellowship; or the Church Member's Guide?" What does this Title mean? What connexion is there between the Title, and the Book? For what denomination of Christians is the Book written? An Episcopalian or a Presbyterian, a Baptist or a Wesleyan, a Swedenborgian or a Socinian, might, as well as Mr. James, write a Book with this Title. But a Papist only, who believes no church, except his own, can consistently write " A Guide FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH." "Chris "The Church Member's Guide" contains a preface, and nine chapters. The first chapter defines a tian Church.” In the second and third chapters, on "the nature and design of Church fellowship,” and on "the privileges of membership," are many things peculiar to dissenters; but the fourth chapter, on “the general duties of Church members," might as well have been entitled " on the general duties of Christians." This chapter has more of religion, and less of dissent, than any other portion of the book. The fifth chapter points out" the duties of Church members to their B |