'The way in which he is to secure his salvation': a final extract from Le Mesurier's Bampton Lectures

For the final time, an extract from Le Mesurier's 1807 Bampton Lectures, On the Nature and Guilt of Schism. Here Le Mesurier provides a description of Anglicanism combining modesty, a gentle native pride, and a quiet confidence. It remains an attractive and wise description, a reminder of how Anglicanism, at its best, has no need for exalted claims, for faithfully administering Word and Sacrament for the salvation of souls is sufficient.

Perfection I do not attribute to her; for God has given perfection to no mortal being, and to no institution upon earth, however proceeding originally from himself. By the very infirmity which shews itself in almost every act of every man, and of every body of men, we are forcibly and hourly reminded that we have no "continuing city" here; but that we must look for happiness, and for reward, to state of things far different, and "to come." Yet I must say that it is a great blessing, and a great privilege, too apt to be despised, and held cheap by those who enjoy it, to be born, as we have been, under a form of discipline so conducive to piety, and of which we have such assurance that it is agreeable to the word of God.

I do not say neither, I never have pretended to say, that the church of England contains within her bosom no unworthy members; nay, no unworthy ministers of the word. He must be a much bolder man than I who will venture to say this of any community to which he belongs. This is a presumption which will rather be found with our adversaries than with us. But this I will affirm, and it is the least that can

be said, that there is in her no such corruption of doctrine, no such perversion of discipline, no such imposition of what is wrong, and suppression of what is right, as makes it any way dangerous or criminal to live in her communion. Nay, I will further assert, that in her the gospel is so preached, the sacraments are so administered, that no sincere and religious member of her establishment can be left to seek for the means of serving God, or be at a loss for the way in which he is to secure his salvation.

Comments

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...

laudable Practice

Search This Blog