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severing Church and State has been let in； and the statesman who did
all this is still alive； and thought by many to be infallible。 No
danger； indeed！ I can find no words to express my astonishment that men
say so。 But； alas！ there are never wanting men who； having eyes see
not； and having ears hear not； and who will not understand。
The Established Church of England is in danger。 There is no mistake
about it。 This is the one broad； sweeping reason why I advocate Church
reforms。 There is a 〃handwriting on the wall；〃 flashing luridly from
the other side of St。 George's Channel； which needs no Daniel to
interpret it。 There is a current setting in towards the
Disestablishment of all National Churches； and we are already in it。 We
are gradually drifting downwards； though many perceive it not； but
those who look at the old landmarks cannot fail to see that we move。 We
shall soon be in the rapids。 A few； a very few years； and； unless we
exert ourselves； we shall be over the falls。 The English public seems
drunk with the grand idea of 〃free trade〃 in everything； in religion as
well as in merce； in churches as well as in corn。 A portion of the
daily press is constantly harping on the subject。 And shall we sit
still and refuse to set our house in order？ I； for one； say； God
forbid！ Shall we wait till we are turned out into the street and
obliged to reform ourselves in the midst of a hurricane of confusion？
I； for one； say； God forbid！ The experienced general tells us that it
is madness to change front in the face of an enemy。 If we believe that
danger is impending over the Church Establishment； let us not wait till
the storm bursts。 Let us gird up our loins while we can； and attempt
Church reforms。
1。 I now mend the whole subject to the prayerful attention of the
clergy。 〃Consider what I say； and the Lord give you understanding in
all things。〃 Oh that I could blow a trumpet in the ear of every rector
and vicar in England； and awaken him to a sense of the Church's danger！
The horizon is very black。 I believe it is our time of visitation。 It
is no time to fold our arms and sit still。 Is our Church going to live
or die？ If we would defend her； we must 〃set in order the things that
are wanting；〃 and aim at Church reforms。
2。 I mend the whole subject to the minds of all thoughtful lay
Churchmen。 I invite you to assist us in maintaining the Church of our
forefathers； the old Protestant Church of England； and to e forward
and take up your rightful place and position。 It is your best policy to
do so。 Except clergy and laity close their ranks and work shoulder to
shoulder； we shall never hold the fort； and win the day。 It would be
your happiness to do so。 You would find a rich reward for your soul in
activity for Christ's cause in this sinful world； and being general
fellow…helpers with your clergy。 Think what an immense blessing one
single layman like Lord Shaftesbury may be to the land in which he
lives。 Think what England might be if we had a hundred more lay
Churchmen like him。 You would soon find out the enormous luxury of
doing good； and being useful to your fellow…creatures。 Just now you
would give new life to the Church of England； render her； by God's
blessing； invincible by her foes； and hand her down to your children's
children； 〃Fair as the moon； clear as the sun； and terrible as an army
with banners 〃 （Cant。 6：10）。
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NOTE。
I mend to all readers of this sermon the following extract from a
leading article in the Guardian newspaper of January 5； 1870。 From such
a quarter； testimony to the importance of the 〃Position of Laity〃 is
doubly valuable：
〃We have shown； we trust； that we are far from insensible to the
dangers that might possibly arise from the admission of the laity to a
larger degree of authority and influence than they now enjoy in the
Anglican munion as known within these isles。 Let us now glance for a
moment at the strength of the case on behalf of the claims being urged
by the laity。
〃Under the patriarchal system； the regale and the pontifical were
united。 The head of the family was at once king and priest； and the
idea that some sacrifices could only be offered by a king was so widely
spread that Athens； after being a democracy； retained for this end a
King…Archon； and Rome in like manner a Rex Sacrificulus。 This union is
to some extent still preserved in Thibet； in China； and in most
countries under Mahometans rule。 In Palestine we know that the two
authorities were dissevered； the royalty ultimately falling to Judah；
and the priesthood to Levi。 Subsequently we read of Saul； Uzzah； and
Uzziah being punished for usurpation of offices not intrusted to their
care。 Yet； when we reflect on the great pains bestowed by David in the
matter of ritual； on the deposition of Abiathar by Solomon； on the
action of pious monarchs such as Josiah and Hezekiah； and on the
position of Zerubbabel and his descendants after the captivity； it must
surely be acknowledged that the lay influence under the Mosaic
dispensation was immense。 One of the famous Jesuit mentators （either
a Lapide or Maldonatus） does not hesitate to admit that in the Jewish
polity the State was superior to the Church。 In the time of our Lord at
least one…third of the Sanhedrim consisted of laymen。
〃When we turn to the infant Church Catholic； almost the earliest step
taken by the munity is one involving the action of the laity。 The
seven deacons were chosen by the whole multitude。 And if various
readings cause some difficulty respecting the Council of Jerusalem； yet
the confirmation of its decision by the whole Church is a recorded
fact。 Evidence of the continuation of a line of thought and action
consistent with these mencements is supplied by Dr。 Moberly from the
works of great and saintly doctors； a Cyprian and a Chrysostom； and
from the Acts of early councils held at Carthage； at Eliberis； at
Toledo； and among our own Anglo…Saxon ancestors。 At the Councils of
Pisa and of Constance； a prominent place was assigned to Canonists and
other doctors of law who were simple laymen。 Moreover； the great
universities of Europe； though lay corporations； having received from
the Church as well as from the State missions to teach theology；
were constantly appealed to for opinions both on questions relating to
the faith and on cases of conscience。 The reference concerning the
lawfulness of Henry VIII。's marriage to these famous bodies is the best
known instance in our history； but it is by no means a solitary one。 In
the fourteenth century； such judgments； especially those proceeding
from the University of Paris； had been very numerous； and so much
weight was attached to them that they almost supplied the place （says
Palmer） of the judgments of Provincial Synods。
〃Nor have the laity achieved merely small things in the way of
theology。 It is true； as might have been expected； that the formation
of dogma； necessitated by heresy； has been for the most part the work
of bishops and presbyters； an Athanasius； a Leo； an Augustine。 But not
only have masterly apologies for the faith and works of Christian
literature proceeded in great numbers from laic pens； but laymen have
also； at certain times and places； shown themselves superior in their
zeal for purity of doctrine to that portion of the Church which； as a
rule； constitutes Ecclesia docens。 A notable example occurs in the
history of Arianism。 Certain bishops of semi…Arian tendencies found it
impossible to infuse into the laity of their flocks the heretical
poison which they themselves had imbibed。 It was a layman； too； who
first called attention to the heresy of Nestorius。 In our own time； the
lay members of ecclesiastical Conventions in the United States have not
unfrequently exhibited a more moderate and conservative tone than their
clerical brethren。〃
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＇19＇ The substance of this paper was originally preached as a sermon in
Winchester Cathedral on April 2； 1886。
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CHAPTER XVIII
John 3：3； 2 Cor。 5：17
QUESTIONS ABOUT REGENERATION
THE paper which begins at this page is intended to supply information
to all Churchmen who are puzzled and perplexed about baptismal
regeneration。 That famous doctrine is so widely held； and so
confidently declared to be true； that I think it desirable to discuss
the whole subject under the simple form of questions and answers。 I
wish to show those whose minds are in a state of suspense； that
Churchmen who hold that baptism and regeneration do not always go
together； have a great deal more of reason； logic； Scripture； and the
Prayer Book on their side than is monly supposed。