strengthened in our souls," must not be estimated of equal importance with the end which it is designed to produce, and without which it will be utterly inefficacious: for, as Herbert says, "Praying's the end of preaching." The second particular is closely connected with the former, the neglect of the worship of the Church when there is no sermon. The appropriate exercise in the house of God, emphatically styled the House of Prayer, is surely not preaching, but prayer and praise; and whoever forms a just conception of the benefits arising from our Lord's promise," where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of you;" whoever reposes confidence in the efficacy of social prayer, will embrace, as a privilege and a happiness, the power of joining in the public devotions, of seeking, by converse with Heaven in the sacred temple, strength and comfort under the trials, temptations, and duties of a perplexing, troublesome, and often corrupting world. Thirdly, That undue value for the performances of one minister above another, which leads Christians to forsake their appropriate place of worship, to the destruction of the "decency and order" with which all things are to be done in the Church; and of that harmony, esteem, and confidence, between pastors and their flocks, which in no slight degree contributes to the usefulness of the ministerial labours. A partial observance of Sunday, the neglect of church ordinances, and a contempt for the Church itself, a disregard for the sin of schism and for a valid commission to the exercise of the ministry, are severally noticed and condemned; but not without clear and forcible demonstration of the sinfulness of these deviations from the "old paths" in "which primitive saints walked, and found rest to their souls," deviations "which modern custom sanctions, and to which modern fashion so powerfully allures." Vol. i. p. 405.

At the approach of Easter the bishop again draws attention to the contemplation of Messiah in the several scenes of his sufferings, his death, burial, and resurrection. The predictions concerning his life, his birth, and his death, in

types and prophecies, with their exact fulfilment, are adduced as evidences of his divine mission. The nature of his sufferings as God and as man, and the purpose of them, as a propitiation for sin, and as an "example that we should follow his steps," are considered on the anniversary of his death. On Eastereven the discourse gives a very satis factory explanation of the passage in 1 Pet. iii. 18,19,20, on Christ's preaching to the spirits in prison. The interpretation of Bishop Horsley is followed.

The evidences of the Resurrection from prophecy, types, and testimony, are next considered, and thence we are led to the ends accomplished by the rising of our Lord from the grave, as respected himself, in the verification of his pretensions; and as it regards believers, in the assurance of their justification and resurrection.

Our victory, through Christ, over sin and death, is the subject next in order; it is viewed in respect to deliverances from the power and penalty of sin, by the expiation which Christ made for it, and by the substitution of mitigated conditions of acceptance for the rigorous and absolute holiness which the law demanded; conditions which, through the quickening and sanctifying power of his Holy Spirit, he enables us to perform. The subject of justification is treated with clearness and simplicity. The nature, the agents, the meritorious cause, the conditions and external means of its conveyance, are detailed; and "the whole process of our justification, of our being accounted righteous before God," is made "intelligible to the humblest capacity."

The character of genuine Christians is strikingly displayed by contrasting, in various particulars, the effects of walking "by sight" and "by faith," with regard to the end of our being, to its character, condition, and destiny. The whole sermon is pre-eminently useful, as striking at the very root of the difference between the "children of this world" and the "children of light." Perhaps one of the most forcible passages is this:

"Trusting to the strength which nature affords, what assurance can he liave who walks

only by sight of deliverance from the dominion of sin? Can he hope to expel from his bosom the unholy desires and passions whose sway is so firmly established there; to fix in his soul the spiritual and holy graces and virtues that are so contrary to its corrupt propensities; to change the habits of sin for those of holiness,the ways of ungodliness for those of righteous ness? Can he hope to perform a work, the difficulty of which is aptly denoted in the 'Ethiopian's changing his skin, and the leopard his spots,' by the unassisted efforts of his own mind; by his own resolutions so changeable; by his own strength so feeble? To him who feels the dominion of unholy passions, and the force of sinful habits, and has experienced the inefficacy of his best resolutions and efforts to subdue and change them, what consolation and encouragement in the confidence which faith inspires, that the grace of a divine Sanctifier will be sufficient for him, the strength of a divine Guide made perfect in his weakness. While he who walks only by sight, who trusts for his victory over his sinful passions only to his own efforts, remains subject to their dominion-he who walks by faith, who habitually looks for the means of his spiritual triumph to the grace of Christ strengthening him, finds that by this grace he can overcome the world, beat down Satan under his feet, and obtain the glorious liberty of the sons of God.'" Vol. ii. p. 78.

On the festival of the Ascension, we have an exposition of the 68th psalm, in its spiritual application to the exaltation of Messiah, to the mercy and grace he bestows, to the extent and glory of his kingdom. "The Christian looking for his Saviour," is another sermon in which a distinguishing feature of the true disciple is prominently displayed. All professing Christians must indeed look for their Saviour's second coming as an article of faith; but it is the privilege of sincere Christians to look for the Saviour with the holiest hopes and liveliest joy; for they look to him to raise their bodies incorruptible, to bring their souls from the place where they shall have awaited the reunion with their glorified bodies, to absolve them publicly from the guilt and punishment of sin, to vindicate their integrity, to proclaim God's acceptance of their good works as evidences of their sincerity and pledges of their qualification for that blessedness to which he will then exalt them. On Whit-Sunday, the personality of the Holy Ghost is proved from John xiv., whence also we learn his intimate union with the Father and the Son, together evidencing the Trinity in Unity. The title of Comforter is then considered as peculiarly appropriate

to the service he was to render the apostles.

"But, my brethren," continues the bishop, "the Comforter came not only for the apostles, but for the Church and for us its members. That Spirit of truth' then descended upon the Church, by whose operations Christ abides with it for ever. Not only the source of that authority by which its officers minister in holy things, but of that grace by which its members are governed and sanctified. As the Spirit of illuminations, by his powerful but incomprehensible operations, he enlightens us to understand the truth of God's word, and to discern the riches of grace and mercy in Jesus Christ. As the Spirit of quickening power, he awakens the slumbering conscience, and excites in the careless and impenitent a sense of their guilt and danger, and an earnest solicitude for the things that belong to their eternal peace. As the Spirit of sanctification, he purifies our depraved affections, and renews us after the image of him who created us. As the Spirit of consolation, this divine Comforter' refreshes and animates us through every doubt, difficulty, and trial. And as the Spirit of power and might, he enables us successfully to engage in our spiritual warfare; to triumph over the enemies of our salvation; and, finally, to attain the crown of everlasting life.

Through the merits and intercession of the Redeemer, the grace of this Holy Spirit is given unto all men, in that degree which enables them to work out their salvation. But ing influences through their union with the Christians enjoy his sanctifying and comfortChurch, which this Spirit governs and sanctifies. Constituted members of Christ's mystical brethren, to the influences of that divine Spirit body in baptism, we are entitled, my Christian by which this body is animated. We are the

temples of this Holy Ghost,' and let us not incur the tremendous guilt of resisting and quenching the Spirit of God." Vol. ii. p. 128.

The fourteen sermons which follow, "relate to the doctrine of the Trinity generally, and particularly to the personality and offices of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, as set forth in the Nicene Creed." We should regret that we had not room for an analysis of this very useful course, could we suppose it possible that our readers were not already satisfied of the injustice of the charge alluded to in Bishop Hobart's preface, so far at least as it is directed against himself. No one can fail to discover, even in the few extracts we have made, an energy of religious feeling, absolutely incompatible with a temporizing spirit, or superficial character. No one can doubt, after having passed his eye over the subjects enumerated in our short syllabus, that to declare "all the counsel of God" to the congregations of which he has the

charge, is the conscientious study of the bishop of New-York; and we should not be inclined to suspect the clergy, in his diocese at least, of refusing to follow an example recommended to them by piety and talents which do honour to the Church and country of the possessor.

For the Christian Journal.

Abstract of the Proceedings of the Thirty-seventh Annual Convention of the Diocese of South-Carolina, held in St. Michael's Church, Charles ton, on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of February, 1825.

THE Convention was composed of the Right Rev. Bishop Bowen, 12 presby ters, 8 deacons, and 28 lay-delegates, representing 13 parishes; and was opened with morning prayer, read by the Rev. David I. Campbell, minister of St. Stephen's parish; and an appropriate discourse delivered by the Rev. Willian Barlow, rector of Claremont. The holy sacrament of the Lord's supper was then administered by the bishop, assisted by the Rev. Edward Rutledge, rector of St. Thomas and St. Dennis.

The Rev. Frederick Dalcho, M. D. was elected secretary and treasurer.

On motion of the Rev. Edward Rutledge, the thanks of the convention were presented to the Rev. Mr. Barlow, for his appropriate and excellent

discourse delivered before them this day; and a copy thereof requested for publication in the Gospel Messenger. Conformably to the 45th Canon of the General Convention of 1808, "providing for an accurate view of the state of the Church," the Right Rev. Bishop Bowen delivered the following address: My Brethren of the Clergy and

of the Laity,

The statement which it is my duty to make to you on this occasion, of the occurrences and transactions of the year, in which, as members of this convention, we are interested, needs not any long suspension of its business. The churches, besides those in the city, in which, according to the requisitions of the Canon, I have officially minis VOL. IX.

tered since your last meeting, are Christ Church, Christ Church parish; St.. John's Church, Edisto; St. John's, John's Island; and St. John's, Berkley; the church at North Santee; St. Helena's Church, Beaufort; St.Helena's Church, St. Helena Island; and St. Luke's parish church. In the last instance of vi-. sitation duty mentioned, a new building, erected near the original parish church, on ground given for the purpose by John Guerard, Esq., was consecrated. This edifice has been erected by a liberal effort of pious zeal on the part of the members of this parish; and is an honourable memorial of the efficacy of the ministry among them, as well as of a reverence for the sanctu

ary, which a too parsimonious appropriation of the ability held at the hands of the Lord of the sanctuary could not satisfy. It is hoped that the Rev. Mr. Van Pelt, now the rector of this parish, will in future be enabled to spend as well the summer as the winter months among its people; and thus enhance to them the value of his already much esteemed services. Christ Church parish, which, when I visited it, was served by occasional missionary ministrations, has since engaged more statedly the services of the Rev. Mr. F. H. Rutledge. Confirmation was administered, on my visiting them, in St. John's Church, Edisto Island; St. Helena's, Beaufort; and St. Helena's, St. Helena Island; and in St. Luke's Church. The same rite has been administered also, in the course of the year, in St. Philip's, St. Paul's, and St. Michael's Churches, in this city. The whole number of per

firmed is 107. At Beaufort, Mr. Edward Neufville was ordained a deacon. Other persons admitted within the year to the same order of the ministry, are, Charles Elliott, Paul Trapier Keith Philip Gadsden, Edward Thomas, George W. Hathaway, and Isaac Low. The two last mentioned persons had not been candidates for the ministry in this diocese. Their ordination here was authorized, in the case of Mr. Ha thaway, by letters dimissory from Bishop Ravenscroft; and in that of Mr. Low, by testimonials addressed to me from the standing committee of New

sons on these several occasions con

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York; the bishop of that diocese being absent on account of his health; concerning which, as a matter in which we cannot but feel ourselves greatly interested, it is grateful to have learned that recent intelligence has gladdened his anxious diocese; and the hope is authorized that he will soon resume his important duties.

Mr. Hathaway has accepted an ap pointment to serve the church at Cheraw, in the stead of the Rev. Mr. Wright, who has been obliged, by the want of compensation adequate to the support of a numerous family, to discontinue his ministry in that station. Mr. Low has undertaken to serve the church at St. Simon's, in Georgia.

Candidates received within the year, are Mr. Aaron Dexter, and Mr. Richard S. Green. These, with such as have been before reported, and not yet ordained, make the whole number of candidates now belonging to the diocese to be five.

Of changes which have occurred since our last meeting, I have first to refer, with a sorrow of which you all cannot but be partakers, to that occasioned by the death of the Rev. Mr. Gilbert, rector of Grace Church, Sullivan's Island, and professor of mathematics in Charleston College. He fell, among the many victims of pestilence, in October last; and the church of which he was rector, has wept in his death, the loss of a pious, able, and much esteemed and respected minister. Indeed, not to shat particular congregation and community enly, but to our Church and society in general, his loss is greater than I can express. He was, in every relation and character which Providence had given him to sustain, well entitled to the esteem he so largely enjoyed. As the father of a family, as a minister of Christ, and as an instructor of youth, his death has been, and must continue to be deeply felt, and reasonably deplored. But, while we indulge a chastened sorrow on account of the calamity which it has pleased the Lord to bring upon our Church, in the removal of this estimable and valued brother, let us not be unmindful of the goodness which has exempted our Church, as to its clergy, so gene

rally from the afflictions of the year; and permitted an enlargement of their number, under circumstances encouraging to our hopes, of their increased collective usefulness and honour. The removal of the Rev. Mr. Adams, lately professor of mathematics in Brown University, into this diocese, and the addition of six other clergymen to our number by ordination, are pleasing circumstances, well calculated to affect comfortably the mind, which, as to the con dition and character of our Church, looks with solicitude to the future. Mr. Adams has been appointed principal of Charleston College, and the persons recently ordained are, with the exception of Mr. Keith, who has been ap pointed to serve the church at North Santee, employed under arrangements made by the Protestant Episcopal Society for the Advancement of Christianity. The Rev. Mr. Taylor has removed from North Santee to the church on John's Island. No other removal has taken place within the year, among our parochial ministers.

The provision which was mentioned to you at the last convention, for the accommodation of the poor of our communion in the city at public worship, has been since completed; and the church which you were informed was building, having been consecrated, is in regular use by a minister acting in the capacity of domestic missionary, and a congregation which his assiduous and faithful services have induced to attend statedly there the offices of our Church's worship.

The Protestant Episcopal Society for the Advancement of Christianity in South-Carolina, continues usefully to prosecute the objects of its institution. It has suffered, with most other institutions of charity, from the pecuniary embarrassment which has characterized the last few years; but has, nevertheless, been able to extend important aid to the Church in several places. If, in the present year, its aid should, in some instances, be withheld from those who have heretofore experienced its benefits, it will be through no diminution of its good will towards them, but through the absolute necessity of a discrimination by which, of demands

upon its bounty, a selection is made of those which seemed to have their foundation in a need the most urgent, because otherwise entirely incapable of relief. Missionary services are now, by its means, extended to some of the middle districts of the state, to Pendleton and Cheraw in the upper, and to several places in the lower. Let me be permitted again earnestly to solicit for this society, the patronage of all members of our Church, who hitherto have not been contributors, either by annual or life subscription, to its funds. It has been instrumental of great good, and would be of more, if its claims were noticed according to their plain, unquestionable, intrinsic merit.

It is proper that I take this occasion to mention, that by an act of the legisMature at its last session, the charter of the society has been so altered, as to authorize and qualify the trustees to receive in trust such funds as may be committed to them by other corporations. All doubt is thus removed of the safety reciprocally between themselves and the vestries of parishes which had given, or may hereafter give, property into their trust, in order to its being more effectually secured to the purposes of its sacred appropriation.

Is it not desirable that a committee of this body be appointed, who, together with a committee of the trustees of the Society for the Advancement of Christianity, may consult as to the practicability of rescuing from alienation from all uses of the Church, property which, originally given for them, is now remaining in some places where the offices of our Church have been for years suspended; and are likely to continue so, from the want of persons sufficient in number for parochial arganization?

I will detain you with little in addition to the statement of matters thus in compliance with express requisition laid before you.

Of our General Seminary, it were scarcely allowable that I should make no mention. It has been favoured with your liberal interest in its welfare; and its condition and prospects, at every such meeting as the present, must be

to you a subject of solicitude and inquiry. It is grateful to me to be au thorized to report to you respecting these, that they are better than when we last were together here. Important measures, wisely adapted to the advancement of the interests of the institution, were adopted by the annual meeting of the trustees in July last; and the hopes of its friends are in some happy degree animated. Still there is occasion, in contemplating the state of this institution in reference to the numbers and wealth of the members of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, to apprehend that either the right steps have not yet been taken to bring its claims duly under their attention, or that it is vain to expect them to act with a common and concentrated feeling, upon subjects the most urgently and worthily demanding it. The se minary is still inadequately endowed, and is supported more by the disinterested zeal of its faculty, than the liberality of the Church. The purpose adopted of permanently locating it in buildings to be erected for its accommodation in the immediate vicinity of the city of New-York, affords encouragement to hope, that it will soon present itself more conspicuously and intelligibly to all, as an object of safe and satisfactory benefaction. From the known generosity of the enterprising and energetic community in which its seat is fixed, much is reasonably expected.

It was deemed proper on a former occasion, to recommend to the patronage of the members of our Church, periodical religious publications conducted in New-York and the eastern diocese, as vehicles of useful intelligence and instruction. the last year, a work of that description was undertaken by members of our Church in this city. It has not yet been adequately supported; chiefly, it may be presumed, because it has not been generally known. May I be permitted to mention, that the continued publication of such a work among ourselves, is, for obvious reasons, much to be desired; and to request for it the countenance and patronage of the members of this body?

At the beginning of