I have received my copy of Reasons for Loving the Episcopal Church , by the Rt. Rev. William Meade, D.D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia, Pub'd by the PESPEK, (1858). The Table of Contents is as follows: I. Brief History of the P. E. Church II. Principle on Which the Reformation was Conducted III. Worship of the Church IV. Doctrine of the Church V. Discipline of the Church VI. The Church not Perfect APPENDIX. Showing that the English and Continental Reformers were perfectly agreed as to the principle on which the Reformation was conducted. The first chapter covers the history of the CofE from the New Testament era to the reign of EI, with brief mention of the CofE in America. I am skipping this chapter for now and have scanned the second. Right now I'm thinking I'll eventually scan the whole booklet (52pp) into a .pdf or some such and have a link on my blog so you can download it. Because of the holiday, I'm going to have to pos...

Each day, Christ offers to us: A cross to bear, A cup of joy, A balm of peace, Light on our path, His promises to claim. Treasures untold, beside these things, In heavenly places, where sits the King. Soon Him we shall see, Who our victory has won. Oh! Glorious sublimity! Our story only begun.

I hate to say this, but the last letter of the Archbishop of Canterbury re: the upcoming Primates' meeting in Tanzania was absurd in the light of current events. His statement that we need to keep listening and trying to understand one another, that we need to carefully consider this and that in a Christian spirit, working to hold together our bonds (viz., keep The Episcopal Church in the Communion) because of the onwatching of the Roman and Greek Churches, etc. - he's in the Twilight Zone! The die is cast, for crying out loud. He says TEC is not monochrome - well! it's sure getting that way fast! Just look at the most recent news regarding what is going on in the U.S. Sure it's ugly, but whose fault is that? He is concerned that we display a "Christian spirit." By that, he obviously means a spirit of understanding, patience, unity, etc. Fine. But that must be balanced with the Christian spirit which is zealous for truth, holiness, and gospel mission...

I've found a copy of Bishop William Meade's (d. 1862) Reasons for Loving the Episcopal Church , and as soon as it arrives, I'm going to start publishing portions of it here. I'm really looking forward to reading this thing.

O ALMIGHTY God, who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast ordained strength, and madest infants to glorify thee by their deaths: Mortify and kill all vices in us, and so strengthen us by thy grace, that by the innocency of our lives, and constancy of our faith even unto death, we may glorify thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

MERCIFUL Lord, we beseech thee to cast thy bright beams of light upon thy Church, that it, being instructed* by the doctrine of thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist Saint John, may so walk in the light of thy truth, that it may at length attain to everlasting life†; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

G RANT, O Lord, that, in all our sufferings here upon earth for the testimony of thy truth, we may stedfastly look up to heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed; and, being filled with the Holy Ghost, may learn to love and bless our persecutors by the example of thy first Martyr Saint Stephen, who prayed for his murderers to thee, O blessed Jesus, who standest at the right hand of God to succour all those who suffer for thee, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.