mildness and evenness of his temper. But on the whole matter of scriptural faith and doctrine, there is a blank—a blank, to which I purposely abstained from pointing the attention of my readers, at the same time that I could not but feel the weight of an opinion, like that of Bishop Porteus, so directly corroborative of my own, though unknown to me, till after my own remarks had been both composed and printed off.

Lowth, as your correspondent remarks, was certainly not a Calvinist ; of that, there can be no doubt. And God forbid that I should love any man the less on that behalf. I certainly indulged a word or two, at the expense of my old acquaintance, the Rector of St. Mary's, Bryanston, for his curious classification of faultless octavos; because I have always fancied, without reference to the merits of the question, that, if the history of literature afforded one instance more notorious than the rest of the demolition of an adversary, it was that of the visionary structure of Dr. Tomline, under the ponderous machinery of Thomas Scott. "I thought it complete in its kind," was Robert Hall's judgment of the latter;*" he razed the Bishop's arguments to their very foundations."

I must now add a few words on the authenticity of the Sermons, now first printed as the productions of Bishop Lowth. Your correspondent is content merely to deny that the originals are in his Lordship's handwriting. I should be loth to swear, in a court of justice, to any body's handwriting but my own; but next to my own, I think I would speak with confidence to that of Bishop Lowth. Even were the contrary established as true, the admission would go but a little way to invalidate the authenticity of the compositions themselves, which have evidently been transcribed since they were taken into the pulpit. But the plain and unsuspicious statement preserved on the covers of the MS. volumes, the constant tradition of their identity,—and the small degree of likelihood that any one would have forged them, and that, too, without any ostensible purpose, were considerations, I imagine, quite sufficient of themselves to counterbalance any suspicion that might arise, even were the handwriting proved to be that of another person. It is a circumstance perfectly well known among the parishioners of St. James's, Westminster, and St. Martin's in the Fields, that Bishop Lowth was in the habit of preaching at their churches; though, unfortunately, the Preachers' Book extends not sufficiently far back at either place, to afford more particular satisfaction. But I am perfectly satisfied to rest on one position: that the internal evidence, both of matter and of style, is so conclusive, as to warrant an assumption, that none but Bishop Lowth could have represented himself so accurately.

Your correspondent, in order to vindicate the carefulness with which every relic of the Bishop has been preserved by his posterity, denies that any of his Lordship's MS. remains have ever been suffered to depart out of the custody of his family. I refer to the auctioneer's catalogue of the sale of the Bishop's library in 1823, where I find no less than eight lots of the Bishop's MS. Annotations and Remarks, besides other volumes

* Gregory's Life of Hall, 12mo.

characterised by circumstances of personal and domestic interest to their former owner. If I am told they were withdrawn from the sale, I answer, that they were scattered about in the bookseller's catalogues for the next two years, and included many of the Bishop's unpublished additions to his own works and those of his venerable father. I have the documents just mentioned in my hands, and can authenticate this statement by ample extracts, if required.

It is certainly true that I applied to the Bishop's family for assistance, both in the compilation of his Memoirs, and in the collection of his Remains. It is equally true that in both particulars I met with a refusal. I blame no one for this. They were quite at liberty to do as they did, and I was equally at liberty to do as I did. They denied me the help I wanted, and I did as well as I could without it. But, surely, these are the last persons in the world who ought to reproach me for such omissions-mistakes, I need not say; for, notwithstanding the scantiness of my materials, they have not convicted me of one mistake, though they have advertised the Memoir, in general language, as full of errors)-but with such omissions as none but their own resources could supply. With respect to the interference of one of the most eminent of our living prelates, I have the best authority for suspecting that it was not only the reserve of Bishop Lowth's family, but also the scruples of Bishop Porteus's successor, which prevented the publication alluded to. And it was not till I had made a promise in that quarter to abstain from entering overmuch into the particulars of Bishop Lowth's biography, that his Grace's apprehensions for the dignity of the see of London were abated.

If the Bishop's family are really in possession of papers which would enhance his general reputation, and more especially remove the blemish which hitherto impairs his character as a divine, they will be doing but a tardy act of justice to his memory to make them public; nor would any one more truly rejoice, could he find good reason to retract an unfavourable sentence against the Bishop, than he who has been thus necessitated to pronounce one.

Believe me, Sir, your obedient servant,
"THE EDITOR OF LOWTH."

CHURCH SOCIETIES.

MR. EDITOR,-I again beg leave to offer a few further remarks with reference to the Church Societies; and although I believe that a general disposition to cooperate with them is happily becoming more and more prevalent among us, yet I cannot hesitate to declare my conviction, that the interests of religion at large (and they are collateral with those of the Church of England) require the most prompt and decided, open and unanimous manifestation in its favour which it is possible for us to display; and that the surest way to promote the permanent welfare of the Church is "to lengthen her stakes and strengthen her cords" by the several means which the Church Societies enable us to employ. I need not now enlarge on the multifarious means of doing good which

these Societies possess, or on the noble machinery which they have set in motion, for the benefit of the present and future generations of men. Your readers, Mr. Editor, know full well how faithfully and wisely the Societies have fulfilled the sacred and important trusts committed to them, and how anxious they are, at the present moment, to extend their circle of operations, and become as widely useful as possible. But true it is, that great as may be the aggregate income of these Societies, diversified their modes of operation, - solid the foundation on which they rest,-invaluable as are their services, and all-important their work, they have never yet been supported in a manner commensurate with our weighty responsibilities as Churchmen, or to a degree adequate to the spiritual wants and necessities of the world. Let any one cast his eyes around our different congregations, and comparatively how few subscribers will he find! How few, in the first place, among those who occupy the rank of gentry, will he discover even contributing an annual guinea; and among those in the middle ranks of life, fewer still have ever thought of lending their aid, while the poorer classes, deriving the most substantial benefit from the Societies, have never been taught to utter a prayer for their prosperity and efficiency, or to desire that the blessings which themselves have received may, through the same agency, be communicated to others also!

It would be difficult to point out all the sad results which are occasioned by the ignorance of Churchmen of the concerns of the Church Societies. From a lack of information respecting them, very many excellent and attached members of our communion have been led to form connexions with institutions professing the same objects with our own, and have thereby contracted associations which, so far from being conducive to church union, have unhappily produced a quite contrary effect. This is the more to be deplored, because it not only alienates and divides the members of the Church, but creates an impression that a large majority of the Church's Ministers are sleeping at their posts, unmindful of their own obligations, and averse to the exertions of others. Upon this ground irregular labours are sought to be justified, and the evils of schism are palliated and overlooked. Thus the influence of the Church is lessened, and advantage given to those who have evil will at Zion. Thus also the progress of the truth is hindered, and those who have nothing more at heart than its furtherance, are set forth as actual obstacles to its advancement. I believe, Mr. Editor, that if we could fairly picture to our minds all the evils, great and small, positive and negative, direct and indirect, immediate and remote, which arise from the non-advocacy of these Societies, we should want no other argument to induce us to engage in their most strenuous support and zealous recommendation. It becomes us, therefore, no longer to hesitate to do that which consistency as Churchmen requires, and gratitude and duty as Christians as positively demand at our hands. And now that the venerable Church of England, the ark of God's truth, is beset on all sides by those who would uproot her sacred establishments, let us not be backward to maintain a corresponding zeal in her cause, and to use all lawful means as well to increase the attachment, and secure the fidelity of her own children, as to bring back to her fold those who have wandered into strange

pastures. Let us maintain her doctrines, assert her authority, and aid her in sending forth authorized ambassadors to water the Churches which she has planted in distant lands, and, by God's blessing, to plant and water others also. Let us, in short, act up to our principles, and whilst we continually pray that "all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith, in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life,"whilst we pray that it "would please God to strengthen such as do stand, to comfort and help the weak-hearted, and finally to beat down Satan under our feet,"—that he would "bring into the way of truth all such as have erred and are deceived, and make his saving health known to all nations," let us not fail to use simultaneously the appointed means whereby these great blessings may be realized, ever remembering that, to be successful, prayer and labour must go hand in hand, and that neither can be effectual without the help of the other. Now the Church Societies not only point out what is to be done, but, to the utmost of their ability, supply the means of doing it. In close connexion with the Church of England, they act as her faithful allies, and are always ready to cooperate with her ministers in sowing good seed in the spiritual vineyard. At one time we see them rearing the house of prayer, where rich and poor may meet together, hear the Divine word, and prostrate themselves before their common Saviour: at another time we see them circulating the word of God, at another dispersing the prayers and homilies of our apostolic Church: at another time we see them accommodating themselves to the capacities and wants of men, and circulating religious books and tracts of all descriptions, that by all means they may gain some at another time we behold them educating the poor and ignorant in the pure principles of the gospel, and at another we see them sending forth their devoted missionaries to dispense the means of grace to our own countrymen, settled in distant regions, and to carry the everlasting gospel to the remotest corners of the earth.

Invaluable indeed, and awfully important, are the services of these Church of England Societies, and of many a blessing have we deprived ourselves by not giving a full scope to their noble designs. There is nothing within the range of christian duty and christian hope which, by the aid of Heaven, the Societies could not accomplish; but their present means being UTTERLY INADEQUATE to their great purposes, they demand our unanimous cooperation and continual support; and miserably wanting shall we be to ourselves, if we refuse them the aid which they now supplicate, and which present circumstances most forcibly remind us we have much too long withheld. Now there are two methods by which the body of Churchmen may be made acquainted with the concerns of the Societies, and invited to yield them their vigorous and incessant support: these means, I need hardly repeat, are local committees, and the periodical preaching of charity sermons. I am well aware that a great number of committees of both the Christian Knowledge and Gospel Propagation Societies are already established in different parts of the country, and I believe, that whereever such committees exist, the greatest advantages have resulted from them, and that at such places the people are particularly sensible of the

interest the Church takes in their welfare, and are more grateful for the spiritual blessings she dispenses than the inhabitants of other districts. I would therefore seriously and earnestly advise the formation of branch committees in all places where such do not exist, and I would commend the Church Building Society to the affectionate regard of Churchmen, as eminently calculated to effect the pious objects for which it was formed. No district in the country should be without local committees of these three Societies. Where a committee of only one Society exists, let others of the other two be immediately formed; and where there are committees of two Societies, let one of the third be forthwith added to the number. Where no committees at all exist, instead of forming separate committees for each Society, it might be better to establish a united association for the joint benefit of the three institutions. Thus, in the locality of London, at Hampstead, there is a committee of the Christian Knowledge Society, and none of either of the others. Let, therefore, two other committees be formed, and Churchmen of all ranks invited to contribute to them. In the parish of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate, there exist committees of the Christian Knowledge and Gospel Propagation Societies, and a committee of the Church Building Society only is wanted. Let, therefore, such third committee be formed. Again, at Camberwell there is no committee at all. Instead, therefore, of forming three several ones, let a grand association for the joint benefit of the three Societies be established, and the Churchmen of the district called upon to aid it to the extent of their ability. No rightminded Christian, or reflecting Churchman, can imagine for a moment that we are thus asking too much. District committees of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge should always bear in mind that their object is not exclusively the advantage of their own neighbourhood; but that, obtaining as large funds as possible, they should remit all that is not required for local purposes to the parent Society, to assist it in carrying on its general designs; and in poor parishes, such as Bethnal Green, Wapping, &c., committees should also be formed, although it cannot be expected that much money would be collected. Their services, however, would be of greater value, in proportion to the poverty of the district; and if only a feeling of attachment to the Church be generated, and a disposition to do good encouraged, such associations might prove of the most essential service to the cause of religion. District committees are calculated not only to accomplish their ostensible and avowed objects, but withal to promote a uniformity of feeling, a congeniality of sentiment among the widely-spread members of the Church of England, · to confederate Bishops, Priests, and People in one great work of love,-in a work which not only requires their united efforts, but the application of such sound and sober means as the Church Societies have ever been accustomed to employ.

In a former Letter* I suggested the propriety of forming committees at our several colleges and schools, viz. Eton, St. Paul's, Winchester, &c., and I trust the recommendation will not be lost sight of. I am

* CHRISTIAN REMEMBRANCER, 1833, p. 619. See also P. 426.