"God grant we may in such wise hear, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them": a Latitudinarian sermon for the Second Sunday of Advent

As an example of recognition of Advent outside of High Church circles in Restoration Anglicanism, we might consider a 1678 sermon for the Second Sunday of Advent by Latitudinarian Simon Patrick (then Rector of St Paul's, Covent Garden - pictured), preached before the King. Patrick's use of the Collect and Epistle of the day demonstrates how the Prayer Book's observance of Advent shaped the piety of those beyond the High Church tradition:

The Holy Scriptures are so full a Storehouse of all Divine Learning, and we are so frequently exhorted to repair thither for our constant Instruction; that as there is no Excuse for those who would lock them up from the people of God, and not suffer them to look into them: so they are no less worthy to be condemned, who will not look into them when they may; nor take any care to enrich their minds with those heavenly Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge, which the Royal Psalmist thought more precious than thousands of Gold and Silver.

To correct this Negligence, Our Church now calls upon us to pray in the Collect for this Second week in Advent, that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by Patience and Comfort of his holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of Everlasting life; which is infinitely more worth than all our present possessions in this World.

Now that we may do according to our Prayers, mark I beseech you the first words of the Epistle for this day, which I have now read unto you: in which the Apostle commends to us the study of the holy Scriptures, from the Benefit we may receive by them; even by those parts of them which may seem to you perhaps very barren, or little conducing to the Profit of Christian People ...

God grant we may in such wise hear, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them, that we may bring forth Fruit with Patience; and do our Duty so faithfully to Him, to our Sovereign, to one another, and to all men, that in the end we may attain Everlasting Life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Why I support the ordination of women: a High Church reflection

A number of commenters on this blog have asked about my occasional expressions of support for the ordination of women to all three orders. With some hesitation, I have decided to post a summary of my own views on this matter. The hesitation is because I have sought on this blog to focus on issues and themes which can unify those who identify with or have respect (grudging or otherwise!) for what we might term 'classical' Anglicanism (the Anglicanism of the Formularies and - yes - of the Old High Church tradition). Some oppose the ordination of women (and I have friends and colleagues who do so, Anglo-Catholic, High Church, and Reformed Evangelical). Some of us support it (again, friends and colleagues covering a wide range of theological traditions). Below, I have organised my thinking around 5 points (needless to say, no reference to Dort is implied). 1. The Declaration for Subscription required of clergy in the Church of Ireland states: (6) I promise to submit ...

How the Old High tradition continued

Charles Gore's 1914 letter to the clergy of his diocese, ' The Basis of Anglican Fellowship ', can be regarded as a classical expression of the Prayer Book Catholic tradition. A key part of the letter - entitled 'Romanizing in the Church of England' - addressed the "Catholic movement", questioning beliefs and practices within it which tended to "a position which makes it very difficult for its extremer representatives to give an intelligible reason why they are not Roman Catholics". Gore provides the outlines of an alternative account and experience of catholicity within Anglicanism, defined by three characteristics. What is particularly interesting about these characteristics is their continuity with the older High Church tradition. Indeed, the central characteristic as set out by Gore was integral to High Church claims over centuries: To accept the Anglican position as valid, in any sense, is to appeal behind the Pope and the authority of t...

Pride, progressive sectarianism, and TEC on Facebook

Let me begin this post with an assumption that will be rejected by some readers of laudable Practice , but affirmed by other readers. Observing Pride is an understandable aspect of the public ministry of TEC. On previous occasions , I have rather robustly called for TEC to be much more aware and respectful of the social conservatism of the Red states and regions in which it ministers. A failure to do so risks TEC declining yet further into the irrelevance of progressive sectarianism. At the same time, TEC also obviously ministers in deep Blue states and metropolitan areas - and is the only Mainline Protestant tradition in which a majority of its members vote Democrat .* With Pride now an established civic commemoration, particularly in such contexts, there is a case for TEC affirming those aspects of Pride - the dignity of gay men and lesbian women, their contribution to civic life, and their place in the church's life - which cohere with a Christian moral vision. (I will n...

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