Master Richard Hooker concerning The Lambeth Conference

fin the first week of the Lambeth Conference this article by the Master of the Temple is especially welcome.—En. Spectator.]

-FORASMUCH as the Church is both a society and

a society supernatural, there be in it some things whereof the prime order and regiment stood not upon a plain command from God, but, albeit after some original and authentical draught written in the divine bosom, was yet in points indifferent by man's device contrived and framed ; the which things in their first estate are ever small ; yet may they be of such a disposition as to grow in the end to a number and excellency, whereof aforetime there was in them no show at all.

Whereof our present synod is in ample sort a proof. For notwithstanding its first weak and thin capacity, and for that it laboured in such ill repute as forthwith to be contemned (in the lightly solicited conclusion of its opposites) for nothing else than a curious and fan-

tastical invention, yet what gratitude have we, yea what humility, yea what acknowledging of God's grace and favour, to see it now grown to such largeness and estimation that three hundred godly bishops are in lope to come at a general consent for the settling of men's minds. For in the consent of all we come near (1 ant persuaded) to the very arbitrament of God himself, and what dubiety soever were peradventure to be feared through the peculiar imbecility and weakness of one or of another is stayed upon the solemnity of in universal synod, wherein all the drift and purpose of their con- sultation is that, having learned what shall scent good unto the Holy Ghost and to them, they may with one mind so determine and with one tongue in the name of God so promulgate.

The first matter of their conference is the very capital and chiefest top of all religion, to wit, the nature of Almighty God. For in these times there be sonic whom it contenteth not that the three hundred and eighteen bishops assembled in the great Council of Niee did solemnly asseverate, " We believe in one God the Fat her Almighty, Maker or heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible," which faith was ever had hi reverend estimation in the Church, and it remaineth at this present hour a part of our church liturgy, a memorial of fidelity and painful zeal, it sovereign preservative of God's people from the it of heresy, but there is newly crept into the minds of men an appetite for the translation and (as it is said) the restatement of old truth. Howbeit, with forbearance, and the mark not overshot, nor any usurpance of the throne of Gad by that which is but secular and transient, such appetite faileth not wholly of credit and authority in the judgment of antiquity ; for (lenient Alexandrinus and Origen, yea and St. John himself, did harness Pegasus to Christ and did sanctify the comelier imaginations; of even the

paynims to the more partieular explication of the mysteries of the Gospel. Let if not I herefore offend any

that in our synod new and strange-sounding theorems, as monism and pantheism and relativity and emergent evolution, with other such-like things, be examined and explored. Wherein, if it b f opposed I hat the curiosity of man's art (loth many times with peril wade farther in the search of things than were convenient, our answer hereunto is this : did not our Saviour say that the Spirit of truth should guide its into all the truth ? To be at odds with truth is to be reft of that heavenly Comforter, and without God in the world. Silk it is

come to pass that by the graver and wiser sort in the Universities of Cambridge and of Oxford and (that I

stint not to acknowledge that which is paradoxical, yet heartily to he embraced) otherwhere in sundry homes of learning after their pattern newly sprung, there is deep inquisition made upon the physical world, the universe around us, and mind, and life, mid spirit, I hold it most convenient and behoveful for the Church, rejecting that which is distempered or ephemeral, to chew and digest the learning of the schools, and to assent unto such conclusions as the industry of right discourse shall reap therefrom, that they which

are counted the choice and master spirits of the age may appear chosen and ministering spirits of the Gospel.

Secondly, as for those things wherein faith is the ground of duty, that men may err upon a mountain it needeth not to affirm. Yet we conclude not the hap of error, or all fear of it, to be shut up to the top alone. That which is high is perilous. That which is wide hath likewise appurtenant perplexity. Thus in the city, where are many streets and the swift motion of much faring to and fro, not without painful labour shall the traveller, unguided, hit the very trail whereby he shall come soonest to his journey's end. For the estate of man's life is now grown to such variety that not the faith only but the duty of a Christian man is herein oft not plain and easy to discern. As touching continuance of marriage, if the fidelity of one have failed while they two once conjuneted in the seal and bond of holy matri- mony do both live in this present world ; or as touching restraint of procreation, yet not sons the Apostle signifieth in the seventh of the first to them of Corinth ; in these and such-like questions, so hard that many shun them and had rather walk as men do in the dark by haphazard than tread so long and intricate mazes for knowledge' sake, there is to be sought not that which by reason of common infirmity is titter and likelier to be brooked, but that which is according to the mind of Christ. Whence also we are attentive for enlightening in such manifold perplexities as spring from the circumscription (in the conceit and imagination of men's minds) of that which was expansed and far ; for by that very ocean which aforetime was dissociable, as Flaccus saith, and ships could but with slow and painful labour come at their haven, there is swiftness of translation, yea and through the clouds, with men faring in winged ships, and tidings borne upon waves of air invisible, whereby is joined land to land in one proximity and neighbourhood ; and because the greatest part of men in all lands are such as to prefer their own private good before all things, it followeth that, if we would go about to have one universal fellowship and league of amity, and that not only for traffick's sake, much in all this remaineth yet to be devised and framed, that the regiment of this present unquiet world may grow to a stouter quality, and that wisdom and charity may season all sorts of men.

Thirdly, as touching the unity of Christendom, it is apparent unto all that Christian men are newly grown towards oneness of spirit and desire for unity of order, drawn somewhat by expediency, as when dissundered warriors knit up their distance in the day of battle, and (which is more) by charity and the sharper remembrance of our Saviour's word. In which desire both such de- traction on our part as we do now confess to have come rather by stomach than by wit, and on the other part old silly rcprobations against the episcopal order, are now utterly surceased, and among very many there is glad consent to inequality of ministers, and that episcopal order is a convenient regiment, which cannot choose but deserve to be held a thing publicly most beneficial, and further a sure part and clement in that greater and more eatholiek church that shall be, when it shall please the Lord to make up his jewels, as saith the prophet Malachi.

Now for this ancient and godly order to be thus allowed, as a wholesome temperature of excesses in all estates, the glue and soder of the public weal, the ligament which tieth and connecteth the limbs of the body ecclesiastical each to other, this is much. Yet much is not all. For, let it be howsoevermuch conceded that the regiment received importcth more than the complexion put upon the receiving thereof, yet there appeareth no sure warrant that this J1CW inclination is alike in every quarter or will grow to permanent continuance. And, albeit touching

that which is in the womb of future time such proofs as lie in number or geometry may not be had, nor wished for, yet is there place for continence and forbearance, as of them which reek, not of self only, but of wife, or child, or treasure not their own ; for the course of adventure is not so lightly to be entertained as to imperil safety at the last. Wherefore the bishops, this way drawn by charity and the dear tokens of the Holy Ghost in men not of their house- hold, with all wish laid apart of domination or of aught but

holy fellowship, are yet drawn another way (if so to pro-. phesy of them will stand with mine own inferior estate and calling in God's Church) by that which is both old and wide. Old is it, as a trust committed, and wide, for- asmuch as in our church we hold to it together with Byzantium and Rome. Whereunto having due regard, paid and received again on the one part with much amity and signs of fellowship, and on the other part most paid by them which are now grown to a more catholick humour its our body, essaying in the late Malines Conversations a little trial of peace, and no great issue, for that many hinderances let even them which be of right goodwill, and of faith equal with their charity, and much more than present hope, we of the Church of England are at once two ways drawn. Whereunto is required one disposition, and no more, and that no whit beyond the compass of disciples, but such as should appear in all. For in what degree soever it shall pass the wit of man to frame together truth and mercy, righteousness and peace, yet in his confessed extremity, so it be clean of pride and desperation, is sold plea and ripe occasion for the operation of God's grace.

S. C. CARPENTER.