The Synod have published a sort of Encyclical addressed to
"the faithful in Christ Jesus," which we have discussed at length else- where. It defines no dogma,—that would have been dangerous, —but it masks one or two, as we have sho:Vii in another column, under a highly hortatory form of words. It is cleverly drawn to catch the Evangelical American Bishops, without alienating the English Ritualist Bishops. This it does by denouncing "Rome's pretension to universal sovereignty," and "the practical exaltation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as mediator in the place of her Divine Son." As Dr. Pusey himself has denounced both these • Romanist errors, there was no danger of offending the Romanizing party by denouncing them again, and it gave a Pro- testant air to the letter which satisfied the Evangelicals. On the other hand, the letter carefully abstains from touching either the Eucharistic views of the Ritualists or their ceremonial. It is an unctuous letter, drawn to " catch votes," and we regret to say it got itself unanimously signed. The seventy-six Bishops con- clude by prophesying the approaching coming of the Lord :— "Brethren beloved, with one voice we warn you ; the time is short; the Lord cometh ; watch and be sober." In the sense in which' this will be generally understood, if it is understood at all, perhaps one or- two out of the seventy-six may believe it. In the only sense in which any thinking man holds it,—God's periodic sifting of evil and sham out of the Church,—we trust it will be so. The Church needs it sadly.
