"THE Plea generally advanced by modern Separatists, that "sound Doctrine is not preached in our Church, upon how "partial ground soever it may really stand, must at all events "be effectually removed. For the people must not only be "taught that it is their duty to live in communion with the "Church; they must moreover be satisfied that they shall be "profited by that Communion. In a matter of this importance "men will take the liberty to judge for themselves; and if they "have reason to think that they are not fed with the true "Bread of Life within the walls of the Church, they will un"questionably seek it, where they fancy it may be found, "either in fields or conventicles." Archdeacon DAUBENY's Guide to the Church, P. 446, Second Edit. VISITATION SERMON. TITUS ii. 1. But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine. THE Epistle to Titus contains an admirable summary of Christian duties. St. Paul having, on his visit to the island of Crete, established a Church there, left his fellow-labourer to complete the work which he had begun. The task was difficult. The Cretans were proverbially addicted to some of those vices which most degrade our nature. Teachers had indeed risen up amongst them, but with a zeal, it appears, not according to knowledge. They were chiefly Jews, professing Christianity, but not sufficiently instructed in the Christian Doctrines: and of some of them St. Paul had heard that they had subverted whole houses, teaching what they ought not, for gain or preeminence. Among Among such a people, blinded by their passions and misled by their teachers, Titus was appointed to make a selection of persons in every city for the different orders of the Ministry. His attendance on St. Paul had doubtless made him acquainted with the Doctrines of the Gospel, and with the Apostle's manner of enforcing them. This Epistle is therefore supposed to have been written not so much for his particular instruction, as for the general edification of the Cretan Church; as his warrant for refusing to admit into it persons who were not properly qualified; and as a text-book for the elders whom he might ordain, by which they might learn to avoid the errors in doctrine which had been propagated through the island. It appears probable that these unruly vain talkers and deceivers*, as the Apostle stiles them, had disputed the authority of Titus, on account of his not preaching the doctrines of the Circumcision. It is certain that they did not themselves sufficiently enjoin the moral duties of *Titus i. 10. Christianity. For no sooner had St. Paul noticed their general errors, than he turns to his scholar with an abruptness which indicates the earnestness of his mind, But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: and immediately he proceeds to enumerate, in a compendious form, the practical duties required of the converts to Christianity: recommending especially sobriety of mind in opposition to enthusiasm (that intemperance of the mind) and enforcing moral obedience as the test of faith, that, while they professed to know God, they might not in their works deny him: and that the Word of God might not be blasphemed. A more perfect manual of instructions could not have been given to a Christian Minister. I have thought it therefore not unsuitable to the occasion on which we are this day assembled, and to the circumstances of the present times, to recal this admonition of the Apostle to the attention of all whom I am appointed to address-not with the presumption of instructing those, from whom it would become me rather to seek instruction, but-with the intention of shewing that in the doctrines B 2 which which are preached by the regular Clergy of the Established Church, they conform themselves to these excellent rules. And, however imperfectly I may discuss the subject, a discussion of this sort cannot be unseasonable, while our Church is almost daily losing some of her members in consequence of a charge or insinuation against the generality of her Ministers, that they are reluctant to speak the things which become sound doctrine; and while, by an exclusive appellation * assumed by other teachers, or perhaps ascribed to them by the indiscreet zeal of their followers, it is, not obscurely, intimated that we have absolutely departed from the pure doctrines of the Gospel †, and that we cease to sustain the character of the Christian teacher as delineated by the pen, and illustrated by the example, of St. Paul. A charge of this nature might well have been disregarded, when it was in the mouth of a few seceders from our Church -when * Evangelical Preachers, or Gospel Ministers. See Note A. p. 53.. + Note B. p. 59. the |