ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 401, 23 June 1908, Page 2

ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH.

At All Saints Church on Sunday evening, the Rev. G. YoungWoodward, vicar, preached a sermon which has created some local interest, and we publish an epitome of same. The preacher took for his text Hebrew ys,., 23 : “ Let us hold fast the profession of our faith.' 1 He traced the orders and authority of the Church of England from Christ and His apostles, and stated that the Church of England was a fusion between the old British Church and the mission sent by St. Gregory the Great 597- St. Aidan, representing the Celtic Church, and St. Augustine the mission sent from Rome, were the apostles of England ; but it was in the time of Archbishop Theodore that the union of the sources ol the Church of England were completed. The split in the time of Henry VIII. did not in any way weaken the Church, although England received excommunication from the Papal see—the succession remaining in the bishops. Later, another evil betell the Church, in the growth of dissenting bodies—those who would not conform to the State Church; but the Church had shown toleration, and in nonessentials was friendly. , The preacher then put a question to all members of the Church: “Why do I belong to the Church of England?’’ He said that the answer generally given “ Because my parents were brought up in it,” was not sufficient in this enlightened 20th century. He then gave an answer that would explain thcreal reason—the reason takin 1 three points, which were vital (1.) My belief in the Catholi£ ; t Church.—The Church traced her - authority back to her founder, Lord Himself. The channel by which her continuity was kept wasf the apostolical succession the means being the laying on ofi hands. He then gave an example in the present Bishop of Wellington his consecration having taken place by three bishops—these bishops in their turn being similarly consecrated, and so on, until, by the imposition of hands the line could be traced to our Lord Himself and His apostles. The vicar explained that the separation of the Church from the nonconformist bodies was owing the fact that they had abolish., episcopacy. This was show that when ministers of oth churches came over to the Chun

of England, the bishops requir

of them ordination first to t;. diaconate, and afterwards to tl priesthood. All this was e? plained, and fully given in th. Book of Common Prayer and the Articles. (2.) My belief in tie power of the priesthood.—God in His love had sent Plis only begotten Son into the world that sinners might receive pardon; the Christ, in forming His church, had given power, a channel by which this pardon could be conveyed through the priesthood. In the ordination service the bishop, in ordaining a priest, said; “Receive*ye the Holy Ghost —whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted ; and whosoever’s sins ye retain, they, are retained.” At matins d.vim evensong a general confession w« provided,, lollowed by a gener* absolution. In the holy comm I

iiion service a personal confess. 9 was given, followed by a absolution; and in another the Prayer Book provided auricular confession with a absolution from the priest. gave to all who worshipped satisfaction of knowing that sins, it really repented of, pardoned by Christ through Church. It was an act of faith iS the love of God shown to IM people. Absolution was the all thoritative declaration of God J pardon, the instrumental cause c.J release from the bonds of siuij (3.) My belief in the sacrament* —The five lesser sacrament?.,! Confirmation, Holy Orders, Ho J Matrimony, Penance, and Extreme Unction, were means by which grace was given to the faithful., The two greater sacraments were necessary to salvation —Holy Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. Baptism was the entrance into the church, whereby we are made members of Christ , children of God, iuheritants of the Kingdom of God. The Holy Communion was the means by which Christ gave himself to the faithful—the spiritual food of the soul. This was the highest of all, because in annesteny it was the receiving of the Real Presence of the risen Master. These three points, briefly sketched, were the beliefs of being a member of the Church of England, and were a test of such members, . . The sermon was closed with an illustration of how that Christ had built His church out of the old Jewish Church, lifting it up to a higher state of existence. The prophecies and types found their fulfilment in Christ himself—the old sacrifices being fulfilled in the sacrifice of the Eamb of God on Calvary, and its application in the Holy Eucharist. The priesthood was summed up and perfected in Christ, the great High Priest, and continued in the Christian ministry. Thus our inheritance is a glorious churchapostolic, catholic! A church with all its roots deeply sunk in its founder, Jesus Cnrist; a church which has been called the greatest church in Christendom. The preacher then urged the congregation to prize so rich an inheritance, and hold fast the profession of their faith.