Episcopal Address Delivered At The Convention Of The Protestant Episcopal Church In The Senate Of New Jersey

Excerpt from Episcopal Address Delivered at the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the Senate of New Jersey: May 28, 1834 The last week in June was'spent in new-york, in the dis charge of the duties which devolved on me as one of the Directors of the General Sunday School Union, and as one of the Trustees of the General Theological Seminary. I spend no time more satisfactorily than that which is occupied in my official relations to the general institutions of our Church. Independently of their great importance, as charged respectively with the promotion of the religious instruction of our children, the preparation of candidates for the ministry, and the extension of the kingdom of the Redeemer by Missions, whether in our own country, or in foreign lands, they have an incalculable value as bollds'of union to the several (lioceses, -d1°a\i7i11g together the mem bers of the Church throughout the Federal Union, and pro moting, under the best auspices, by the best influences, and with the best results, the unity of the spirit in the bond 'of peace. - It is matter of high congratulation to the Church, that the General Theological Seminary is beginning to accomplish the great purposes for which it-was instituted. In the increasing number of the candidates for orders, who resort to it, in the advantages of instruction afforded themthere, and, above all, in the excellent spirit which pervades the institution, - a spirit of pure and primitive devotion, and we rejoice to know, a Missionary spirit - there is the best of all possible auguries, under the blessing of God, 'ofpros perity to the Church. In whatever way, - as a body, in our official stations, as individuals, - it is our duty, and will be found our wisdom, to support this institution. To it, under God, we are to look for the extension and establishment of Christ's kingdom among us. An efiicient Christian smin istry, must be a well instructed Christian Ministry. This is obvious from the nature of the case. It is confirmed by all experience. The time has passed, when the necessities of the Church ought to be allowed as an excuse for defi cient preparation for the Clerical office. Nothing, indeed, should le'commend him for the work of the Ministry, who is not moved to undertake it by the love of-'christ and of souls. But nothing ought to satisfy him who is so moved, short of the best possible fitness for the -work. The time was, when the means for acquiring it, did not exist among us; Now they do. It IS 1ncumbent on us, my brethren, Clerical and Lay, to do all that we can in making them com mensurate with the 'wants of the Chureh, - with the wants, I ought rather to say, of a perishin g world. To lend our aid in the support of the General Theological Seminary, and to ena ble and induce our candidates for orders, so far as possible, to repair to it, and to remain there during the whole term, - a point m which, I regret to say, too many fail, -are imme diate and obvious modes of plomoting this result. A means, though less direct, yet still more efficient, will be indicated and enforced ln another part of the Address. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.