"We may maintain without presumption": the modest confidence and quiet gratitude of the Old High Church tradition

In Bethell's 1834 Charge to the clergy of the Diocese of Bangor we see what might be the most significant of the differences between the Old High Church tradition and the Tractarians.  In his 1834 Foreword to the Tracts for the Times, Newman portrayed an Anglicanism that had gone astray, "leaning on an arm of flesh instead of her own divinely-provided discipline", with abundant spiritual "deficiencies".  In Tract One, Newman similarly berated the Church of England for relying on "your birth, your education, your wealth, your connexion" rather than "the real ground on which our authority is built,— OUR APOSTOLICAL DESCENT".  This became not only the source of Tractarianism's contempt for 18th century Anglicanism, but also of the later Anglo-Catholic unease with what we might term 'ordinary' Anglicanism and the consequent perceived need to introduce liturgy, ceremony, and spiritual practices from the Roman tradition in order to rectify "deficiencies".  

Bethell, by contrast, here rejoices in Anglicanism - its doctrines, ceremony, liturgy, and that very apostolical descent which Newman rather haughtily presumed to have been neglected.  Note too, Bethell's conviction that Anglican belief and practice cohered with that of the Primitive Church, contrary to the Tractarian contention.  A strong case can be made that this Old High Church confidence in and affection for Anglicanism's native piety and constitution was fundamental to the parting of the ways with Tractarianism.  What is more, a recovery of such modest confidence and affection would surely have significance for the life, witness, and mission of contemporary Anglicanism. 

The claims indeed of that Church to the regard and veneration of the people, the purity and scriptural integrity of its doctrines, the simplicity of its ritual, the spirituality of its Liturgy, and the Apostolical form of its constitution, are such as, when well understood and viewed without prejudice or partial affections, can scarce fail of approving themselves to a reflecting mind. Without arrogating to them that kind of perfection of which no human labours or institutions are capable, we may maintain without presumption, that the more thoroughly our doctrines and services are examined and sifted, the more nearly they will be found to accord with the opinions and practice of the early Christians, and with Scripture itself: and that the succession of our Ministry, which may be traced back to the Apostles of Christ, gives a validity and security to our ministrations, which sound reasoning cannot impeach, and no earthly power nor change of popular opinion can weaken or destroy.