. The history of the American Episcopal Church, 1587-1883 . were an un-broken wilderness, and are now teeming with a refined and enterprising people;if they could have foreseen in 1785, that they were legislating for a Church which,in the course of a century, would cover a ten-itory more than double the size ofdie Roman Empire, when it was said to rale the world, how impressive and event-ful would the work have seemed to be, which in all humility and lowliness of heartthey had assembled to do ! A very solemn responsibility rests upon the Convention, which is assembledto carry on the work which
. The history of the American Episcopal Church, 1587-1883 . were an un-broken wilderness, and are now teeming with a refined and enterprising people;if they could have foreseen in 1785, that they were legislating for a Church which,in the course of a century, would cover a ten-itory more than double the size ofdie Roman Empire, when it was said to rale the world, how impressive and event-ful would the work have seemed to be, which in all humility and lowliness of heartthey had assembled to do ! A very solemn responsibility rests upon the Convention, which is assembledto carry on the work which they so well inaugurated. By excess of legislation, orby defect of legislation, the progress of the Church may be seriously hindered, andwhUe we must always be true to the doctrine and spirit of om- one only Lord andSovereign, and to eveiy usage and doctrine which is essential to the integrity ofthe Church, we should carefully consider the circumstances which suiTound us,and conform om-selves to the peculiar condition and necessities of the people among. \ TI miTT, PHILADELPHIA 378 HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN EPISCOPAL CHURCH. whom we live, remembering that arrangements which might have suited preciselythe state of society as it existed in England two or tliree hundred years ago maynot be in every particular adapted to tlie wants of our heterogeneous and shifdngcommunity. There is other worlt for us to do beside fortifying and defending ourcitadel. Constitutions and canons are of value, so far as they aid in dischargingthe mission intrusted to us, and no farther. Rubrics are only the regulating powerof the machine, — indispensable parts of the mechanism, but without any inspiringforce. And wliile we continue to walk in the old paths, let it be with an acceler-ated pace, and -with our eyes looking forward, and not backward. This Church may become the rallying point and centre of unity for those whoare weary of sectarian divisions, and are content to accept the simple faith, as we
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