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THE LORD BISHOP OF CIES TER, 


| Hold of LIVERPOOL, «© 1 | 


', "ON SATURDAY, JULY 6.1799 | , - oe 2 


By Tus Rev. FRODSHAM HODSON, M. 4. AS. "= 


FELLow or BRagen Nose CoLLEGE, OxroRD. | | | IS 4 


. : | LIVERPOOLE.-:-- © | 8 
Printed by J. GORE; and ſold by J. GORE, a W. HARDING, Liverroor ;—by 

HANWELL and PARKER, Oxroxn; © * |. RIVINGTON and SONS, 

„ Paul's Church Yard, Lox po. e | 2 


M DCC XCIX. W 


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To 
THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD, 
WILLIAM, 


BY DIVINE PERMISSION, 


LORD BISHOP OF CHESTER, 
THE FOLLOWING SERMON, 
PREACHED AT HIS APPOINTMENT; = 
oY 
| PUBLISHED AT ulis COMMAND, 
IS INSCRIBED, 


With the moſt profound reſpect and reverence, 


& 


„ 


BY HIS LORDSEHIP's 
Obliged amd dutiful ſervant, 


 FRODSHAM HODSON. 


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SERMON, Ke. 


' EPHES. Chap. iv. Ver. 16. 


/ 


TAE WHOLE BODY FITLY JOINED. TOGETHER, 
AND COMPACTED BY THAT WHICH EVERY JOINT 
SUPPLIETH—. 


VW 


% 


| WRITER, the graces of whoſe language have con- 
ferred on his labors in the cauſe of infidelity an im- 
portance greatly diſproportioned to the weight of his 
authorities or to the general fairneſs of his reaſoning, has 
endeavoured to depreciate the credibility of our religion 
by tracing its progreſs to the operation of human cauſes ; 
and, as if fearful, perhaps conſcious, that ſuch harmleſs 
weapons, though wielded by his ſkilful hand, could not 


B inflit 


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inflict the deadly blow, he has a ſubjoined ſome ſarcaſtic 
animadverſions on the introduction of thoſe gradations of 


rank, which are as eſſential to ecclefiaſtical as to civil order, 


which at once uphold and adorn our eſtabliſhment, and 


by the diſparagement therefore of which, he, I fear, was 


hopeful of ultimately effecting their ſubverſion, and of thus 
ſatiating his rancorous hatred of Chriſtianity, by ſeeing 
buried under the ſame ruins, the doctrines, the rites, and 
the government of the Church. In oppoſition,” therefore, 
to an author, the popularity of whoſe ſtyle throws a luſtre 


around his name, which creates a dangerous bias in favour 


of every bold aſſertion and every uncandid inſinuation, it 
is my wiſh to vindicate the form, as well as the principle, 


of our eſtabliſhment ; to ſhew that its neceſſity is demon- 


ſtrable a prior2, that it has been recognized in both the 


Moſaic and the Chriſtian diſpenſations, and that it is actu- 
ally framed on the model of the primitive Church. 


Every inſtitution, which is deſigned for general uſe, muſt 
be provided with means for the promulgation of its laws, 
and with authority to enforce them. A ſyſtem of aerial 
ſpeculation may ſerve well enough to intereſt the Academy 
or the Portico ; but a ſeries of truths however luminous, 
and a code of laws however ſalutary, when announced to 
the bulk of mankind in an unembodied form, can make 
but little progreſs towards reaching the human heart, and 


can. 


2 Gibbon's Hiſtory of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol. 
2, ch. XV. p. 330—337 and 351353 Ed. 8vo, 8 


1 * 
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, G, 


3 
can operate with but feeble influence on human conduct. 
Whatever be the origin and whatever the deſignation of 
any ſyſtem, if it is meant to be diffuſed and perpetuated, 
means muſt be deviſed and precautions adopted for giving 
it ſecurity and permanence ;—ſuch proviſions of wiſdom muſt 

be incorporated with it, as will-enable it to withſtand the 
rude ſhocks of violence, the ravages of time, and all thoſe 
various contingencies, to which every thing connected with 
humanity is expoſed: it muſt be inveſted with power 
which may ſhield it from inſult, and invigorated with re- 
ſources which may preſerve it from decay, 


Tt is the ſame with revelation ;—without an uninterrupted 
ſeries of miracles (and the very idea cannot be expreſſed in 
language which does not convey abſurdity and contradic- 
tion) but without a perpetual ſuſpenſion or an inverſion of 
the order of nature, a revelation can only be perpetuated 
by the blefling of God on human means. And here, let 
it not be argued, as it has ſometimes been, that it is inſult- 
ing the majeſty of God to aſſociate divine and human laws, 
and ſuperadd to his Almighty fiat the impotent command 
of man. For conſiſtency's ſake, let it be added that it is de- 
grading to have created a being compounded of ſuch hete- 
rogeneous materials as ſpirit and matter, and to have im- 
priſoned the immortal ſoul in a mouldering tabernacle of 
clay! The fact is, that every part of the divine diſpenſa- 
tions muſt be conſidered with reference to our wants and 
and weakneſſes, and as accommodated to the infirmities of 
a fallen being ; and when we contemplate revelation thus 
7 connected 


4 
connected with ſuch a being, we can not expect it to be 
communicated as a bare enunciation of the divine will, or in 
the naked fimplicity of a command:—Angels and ſuperior 
orders of intelligence may liſten and obey ;—but man, the 
ſport of paſſion and the victim of appetite, beſet with ſuch 
a multiplicity of temptations and encircled with ſuch a hoſt 
of crimes; man, who in the ſallies of ſome eccentric mo- 
ment rejects truths the moſt obvious, and amidſt the ebul- 
litions of ſome impetuous paſſion renounces principles the 
moſt virtuous;—ſuch a being requires ſome viſible inſtru- 
) ment, ſome preſent monitor, who under the favour of Pro- 
vidence may inculcate the doctrines, may enforce. the 
precepts, 18 protect the ordinances of God. 


From a view, therefore, of the nature of man and the ſet- 
tled conſtitution of things we conclude, that where a ſyſtem 
of doctrines and rites is revealed which is to endure till the 

final conſummation of all things and to be bounded only by 
the limits of the world, proviſion muſt be made for its per- 
manence and univerſality (not by any act of omnipotence 
which would vacate the reſponfibility and annihilate the 
agency of man, but) by ſecuring, through human inſtrument- 
ality, a regular fucceſſion of miniſters qualified for the vin- 
dication of its fundamental truths, for the expoſition of 1 its 
precepts and the adminiſtration of i its rites. 


But it is not merely general proviſions which reaſon an- 

\ ticipates; from a contemplation of the character of man 
and. the avcury of this high commiſſion, reaſon infers, 

that 


* 


5 


that they who engage in an occupation thus holy, ſhould 
be dedicated to its excluſive ſervice, in order that they may 


have more leiſure for ſcriptural reſearch and greater ſecurity 


againſt the pollutions of the world. Reaſon infers, that, as 


we none of us can truſt the partiality of our own judgment 


and are not all competent to eſtimate the fitneſs of others, in 
order to prevent the intruſion of ignorance and the contami- 
nation of vice, power to confer the miniſterial office muſt be 
veſted in thoſe whoſe approved talents will enable them to 


diſcriminate, and whoſe elevated ſituation will ſtamp their 


appointment with authority. Reaſon infers, from the oppo- 


fition of contradictory opinions and the conflict of rival inte- 


reſts, that amongſt the ſeveral members, thus multiplied, 
there muſt be ſuch a diſtribution of power, as is ſuited to their 


reſpective duties, and proportioned to their different ranks ; 


and whilſt, in order to command reverence and inſure tran- 


quillity to the whole it thus riſes in a graduated ſcale, it muſt 


terminate in that authority which is to exerciſe ſupreme con- 


trol; and which, as it is to preſide over ſo wide a ſphere, that 
it may be the better prepared to animate as well as to 


awe to duty, muſt be endowed with the incitements of 
remuneration, as well as armed with the terrors of power. 


Such are the legitimate concluſions which reaſon draws, 
_ whilſt previouſly ſpeculating on the proviſions neceſſary for 
promulgating a revelation, and on the means of giving 


thoſe proviſions the regularity of order and the unity 


of ſyſtem, 


* "OP 


S 


In the inftitutes of the Moſaic code and in the regula- 
tions of the Levitical prieſthood, we not only find a recog- 
nition of this general: principle, but the very modifications 
of it to which we have alluded, hallowed ſometimes by the 
poſitive command, and ſometimes by the ſubſequent ſanc- - 
tion of God. Moſes,” we are told in the book of 

Exodus, © choſe able men out of all Iſrael, and made them 
heads over the people, rulers of thouſands, rulers of hun- 

_ * dreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens,” And leſt we 
ſhould ſuppoſe that ſuch gradations were confined to the 
forms of civil government, we read too, that the Almighty 
ordered Moſes, © © to put upon Aaron and his ſons, the 
« holy garment, and to anoint them and ſanctify them to 
« miniſter in the Prieſt's office and again, * that their 

« anointing was to be an” everlaſting prieſthood through- 
« out their generations.” Me further find that the Le- 
« vites were to be preſented before Aaron that they might 

» © © miniſter to him, and that his authority was to regu- 

late the ſervices of their tribe. So that the ſubordination of 
the Jewiſh prieſthood is as evident as their divine appoint- 
ment; and 1 will take leave of the conſideration of the 


mor 0 


b Exod. c. XVIII. V. 25 · | 


Cc Levit. C. VIII. V. 13. 58d C. XXVIII. v. 1—4 and . 
XXIX. V. 3 and C. . V. * | _ 


4 Exod, c. XL. v. 15 and Numbers, c. X XV. v. 1g. 
e Numbers, c. III. v. 6 and c. XVIII. v. 2—7. 


* 14, 7 * 0 — „ * a * 5 R o_ 
” * 1» rg tte 


7 


more * minute details of their ſacerdotal arrangements 
with obſerving, that the diſtinguiſhing appellations of 2 
« High Prieſt” and © Chief Prieſts” imply, in thoſe to 
whom they are aſſigned, more exalted — as well as 
more dignified functions. 


2 I, then, the Jewiſh œconomy, ſo remarkable for the 
frequent preſence and the conſtant ſuperintendence of 
God as to be emphatically denominated a theocracy, was 
yet conducted by the intermediate agency of men, conſe- 
crated to different offices and placed in different ſtations in 
ſuch a manner as to give coherence and harmony to the 
| whole; we can not but expect, that a ſimilar ſyſtem would 
be adopted in the Chriſtian diſpenſation, which (as, from 
its being deſigned to extend over a wider range and to en- 
dure to a more protracted period, it would require for the 
miniſterial duty augmented numbers) would alſo require 
greater ſeverity of diſcipline and greater energy of control. 
Accordingly, the inſtructions with which our Lord con- 
cluded his viſible miniſtry on earth, h Go ye into all 

« the world and preach the Goſpel to every creature,” do 
not announce the object to be effected with more clearneſs 
than they ſuggeſt the means of effecting it. For, as no one 
will be wild enough to ingraft on the words the incongru- 
ous 


2 


f Numbers c., IV. 


8 Numbers, c. III. v. 32 and c. IV. v. 27. 


h Mark, c. XVI. v. 15. 


* * 
— Swi, — Wr 4,4 Mev 


ous interpretation, which would exact from the perſonal ex- 
ertions of the apoſtles the accompliſhment of a deſign which 
pervades all time and includes every human being, it is 


of neceſlity implied, that the execution of this comprehen- 
five ſcheme was to be completed by the co-operation of 
teachers whom the apoſtles ſhould delegate, i and by the 
aggregate labours of thoſe whom in every age the ſuc- 


ceſſors of the apoſtles ſhould inveſt with that high com- 


miſſion. E In conformity with this, whilſt we are told 
that Paul and Barnabas, who had themſelves been ſeparat- 


ed! for the miniſtry with prayer and impoſition of hands, 


ordained elders in every church, * we find St. Paul, in 
one inſtance, admoniſhing Timothy" to vindicate © the 
* honour due to the elders,” and to © lay hands ſuddenly on 


* no man;” and in another, declaring that he“ left Titus 


in Crete, that he might = ſet in order the things that were 


wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as he had appoint- 
% ed him.“ Fr rom the Introduction of his epiſtle to the Phi- 
lippians | 


7 


i The Acts of the Apoſtles, c. VI. v. 6. 


K „ habemus annumerare eos qui ab W inſtituti ſunt 
bo r in eccleſiis, et lucceſlores eorum uſqe ad nos.“ — 


Irene. lib, . cap. g. Ed. Grabe. 


1 Acts, c. XIII. v. g. 
m Acts, c. XIV. v. 2g. 
n 1 Tim. c. V. v. 17 and 22. | 


0 Titus, e. I. v. 5. 


2 N * * 2 de... 


9 
 lippians it appears, that the paſtoral authority thus exerciſ- 
ed was not of? equal and co-ordinate rank, but modi- 
fied into thoſe very forms which till ſubfiſt ; Paul and Ti- 
* motheus, the Servants of Jeſus Chriſt, to all the Saints 
« in Chriſt Jeſus which are at Philippi, with the  5:/hops 
cc and deacons.” I forbear to accumulate proofs familiar to 
clerical ears, and will only add a very remarkable paſſage 
of Ignatius, in which he minutely diſtinguiſhes three orders 
of eccleſiaſtics; . the biſhop, ſays he, te preſiding in 
« the place of God, Teoedyuve 7s ed? lis roco deb, and the 
& elders in the place of the council of apoſtles, and the dea- 
6c cons, being intruſted with ths miniſtry of Jeſus Chriſt,” 


This epiſtle, I am aware, is one which ſometimes ap- 
pears disfigured with interpolations; but even if the ſaga- 
city of criticiſm ſhould taint this paſſage with ſuſpicion, our 
proof will not be invalidated; as we can appeal with confi- 
dence, not to one folitary ſentence or to a few detached 
words, but to the whole of the * ſucceeding chapter, and 
to ſome portion or other of almoſt every epiſtle which bears 
the name of Ignatius. . The 


p 8 tota antiquitas ſenſiſſe Titum et Timotheum a Paulo ordinatos 

* hoc peculiari modo Epiſcopos cum ſuperioritate in alios paſtores; Polycar- 
t cum quoque et alios ordinatos ab Apoſtolis: et hos Epiſcopos, qui in ſingulis 
4 civitatibus erant duntaxat finguli, non gugſvis paſtores, in Apocalypſi An- | 
5 gelos vocari.”” Bon, Fid, Sib. Lubbert, Grotii, oper. tom. g. p. 135» 


4 Philip. c. 1. v. 1. 
r Ignat. epiſt, ad Magnes, cap. 6. p. 16. tom. a. Pat. Apolt, Ed. Cot. 


* Qoweg By & ub Ave T8 Taro; 80ev TOE - Net Ve Aε Te 
emiTuoTs, unde geo S regos, unòͤe danovog, unde . 1. T. A. cap. 7. ut 


10 


ſupra. vide quoque be epiſt. ad Trallian.“ cap. 2. g. et J. 


The teſtimony, therefore, of one who was the * diſciple 


of St. John, who was appointed biſhop of Antioch by the 


apoſtles u - themſelves, who ſurvived the laſt of them and 


ſuffered martyrdora about the 109th year of the Chriſtian 
era, muft be allowed to be decifive of the practice of the 


primitive Church during the V century; and by the libe- 


rality of a * conceſſion, hardly to have been expected 


from one ſo hoſtile to Chriſtianity, we are releaſed from the 


neceſſity of inveſtigating the opinions and uſage of ſucceed- 


ing ages; for the writer, to whom I have alluded, ac- 


knowledges that after the firſt century, the exiſting mode 
of Church government had the ſanction of antiquity. I 


truſt it appears that it has a much higher ſanction; and 
therefore to his bitter invective and his gorgeous declama- 


tion againſt the ſplendor of the hierarchy I would in a 
word reply, that as far as it is meant to attach to the Church 


of England 1 it 18 e except in thoſe inſtances i in which it is 
indiſpenſably 


« epiſt, ad Phila- 
delph.“ Sap. 7. 8. et 9. epiſt. ad n Py Py; 8, et 9 8 N ad 


Polycarp. cap. 6. 


* 


2 Martyr. 8. Mart. 1055. Theoph, cap. 2. Pp. 163 tom. 2. Pat. PTY Ed. Cot. 


ue Ignatium Antiochiæ ab apoſtolis electione conſtitutum dicit Chryſoſto- 5 
&© mus.“ Rivet. apolog. diſcuſs, Grotii. oper. tom. g. p. 695. 


WO Gibbon, vol. 2. p. 332, and note 112. Ed. gvo. 


y *© The ſimple hereupon, lacking judgment and 1 to A be- 
8 tween the nature of things which changeth not, and thoſe outward and va- 


& riable accidents, are made believe that a Biſhop heretofore and now are things 


ein their very nature ſo diſtin& that they cannot be judged the ſame, Yet to 
% men that have wy part of ſkill, what more evident and plain in Biſhops, 


than 


II 


indiſpenſably neceſſary to annex the external appendages of 


power in order to preſerve the principle of the original 


inſtitution. Verſed as he was in human nature, no one 
knew better than himſelf, that amongſt a people flouriſn- 
ing. amidſt the diſcoveries of inventive genius, enriched 
with the purſuits of commerce and advanced to the ſum- 


mit of ſocial refinement, the poverty of a primitive paſtor, 


or even the intereſting ſimplicity of patriarchal manners 
would be ill calculated to give efficacy to exhortation and 


effect to authority. But all ſuperfluous ornament and all 


unneceſſary power we diſclaim, anxious only to preſerve 
what was originally ordained for the purpoſe of preventing 


innovation on our doctrines and infringement on our diſci- 


| plane, 5 


If, then, our inſtitution, thus modelled, can * x 
divine origin and of apoſtolical adoption; if it be built 
e on the foundation of the Apoſtles and Prophets, Jeſus . 


« Chriſt himſelf being the chief corner-ſtone,” away 
with that morbid liberality of mind, too flimſy a veil to 
Es 2 5 Nt hide 


than that augmentation or diminution in their precincts, allowances, privi- 
© leges, and ſuch like, do make a difference indeed, but no eſſential difference 


<* between one Biſhop and another ? As for thoſe things in regard whereof we 


e ule properly to term them Biſhops, thoſe things whereby they eſſentially 
„ differ from other Paſtors ; thoſe things which the natural definition of a 


e Biſhop muſt contain, what one of them is there more or leis applicable unto 
bs Biſhops now than of old?“ 


Hooker's Eccles, Polity, Book th, P- 374 Ed, 1670, 


2 Ephes. c. 11. v. 20. 


12 


hide the indifference which lurks beneath it, which can 
tamely behold the machinatiens of thoſe who would under- 
thine this ſacred edifice. The tonſtcientions difſenter on 
principle, him who becomes ſuch on the reſult of what 
he deems, however effoneoully, impartial inveſtigation ; or 
even thoſe whoſe diſſent is ſupported by no fairer teaſoti 
than the force of habit or the prejudice of education, far be 
it from me to arraign! Sacred for ever be the real rights 
of conſcience, and for ever undiminiſhed the prerogative of 
private judgment! Let toleration be extended to the ut- 
moſt verge of prudence and be limited by no reſtriftions 
which are not eſſential to the ſecurity of the national 
church ! But yet, for that venal band of apoſtates from our 
eſtabliſhment, who, forgetting the ſolemn pledge which 
at their ordination they| gave to God and man, can find a 
recompence for their deſertion in the petty acclamations 
with which their miſguided conventicle may hail them, or 
can baſely compromiſe with their conſcience for the ſordid 
emoluments which they can extort from deluded igno- 
rance, for them as it 1 is impoſſible to feel, it were a profa- 


nation 


2 The Biſhop at the Holy Table aſks the Candidate, © Will you reve- 


i rently obey your Ordinary, and other chief miniſters unto whom is commit- 


ted the charge and government over you; following with a glad mind and 
„ will their godly admonitions, and ſubmitting youtube to their godly | 
“ judgments ?” 

Anſwer, © I will do ſo, the Lond being my helper.” 


See, The form and manner of the ordering of Deacons and Prieſts,” in 7 
the Common Prayer Book, 


See too, The 36th of the Articles of the Church of England, 


* 


„ 


* 


nation of this holy place to expreſs, indulgence. May they 
be reclaimed from the error of their ways, and be made 
one fold under one ſhepherd! and may we, my brethren, 
be confirmed in the principles of our faith, by looking, and 
looking to imitate, up to that vigilance in the diſcharge of 
duty, which is exemplified in the exerciſe of that autho- 
rity, in obedience to which we are here aſſembled under 
circumſtances of peculiar anxiety. 


The fingular dangers which threaten hs Church of 
Chriſt are doubtleſs intended for the exerciſe of our ta- 
lents and the probation of our faith. If a great portion 
of what once was Chriſtendom has recorded its renuncia- 
tion of a Redeemer and a God, if not an outwork mere- 


Il, only remotely connected, but the citadel of our faith' it- 


| ſelf is inveſted, we are called upon to expand our faculties 
and to exhauſt our powers till we diſplay energy equal to 
the portentous criſis, and thus in contradiſtinction to others 
record what can never be forgotten even here, and if it 
were, will yet be remembered to our immortal glory here- 
after, that in a moment of general convulſion and general 
dereliction of principle, the ſons of our eſtabliſhment were 
true to their duty and conſiſtent in their profeſſion. Qui ibi 
| hoc Hunt, ut corrigat mores aliorum ac peccata repreh endat, 
quis hiuic ignoſcat, i qua in re iſe ab religione icli decli- 
narit? Þ is the queſtion of the Roman orator ; but it is 
the Chriſtian miniſter that muſt give the anſwer ; and ne- 
ver was it more neceſſary that that anſwer ſhould be written 
in 


b Cicer. in Verrem lib. 3. ſub 1 L 


: - 


4 — TH 
po . THT, 1 8 
Ly . . 


14 55 * 


in characters of virtue legible by every beholder! Atheiſm 


has been permitted to enthrone itſelf in power, and thence 
to ſcatter its peſtilential mildew over the fair fruits which 


religion would produce, blaſting with locuſt deſolation 
every ſocial virtue and every chriſtian grace; carrying con- 


ſternation into the retreat of piety and diſmay into the bo- 


ſom of faith; ſhaking to its centre the whole moral ſyſtem 


5 and disjointing the very frame of civilized ſociety, 


— — totaque di ar rſeors 
« « Machina divulſi turbabit feedera mundi. : 


To cruſh this monſtrous prodigy of vice and fillchood, 
fertile in miſchief and inveterate in hoſtility as the gates of 


Hell itſelf, may the grace of God direct us to apply our 


* 


moſt ſtrenuous confederate exertions! No exertions can be 


ſo ſerviceable as the diſplay of thoſe virtues which are the 


ſureſt teſts of our ſincerity, and the brighteſt ornaments of 
our profeſſion. Upon theſe we cannot doubt the favour of 
approving Heaven]! Before this, they have been permitted 


to enable our eſtabliſhment to encounter viciflitudes equally | 


diſaſtrous, and to ride in ſafety through ſtorms of equal 


violence! They enabled it in its very infancy to reſiſt per- 


ſecution leagued with power; and at a later, but not Jeſs 


glorious period, to emancipate itfelf from the thraldom of 


ſuperſtitious ceremonies, and to reject the ſullen indepen- 
dence and the republican rigours of Calvin! The exer- 


tions, which were then crowned with ſucceſs, will equally | 
avert all danger now); the ſame energetic efforts of reaſon 


controlled 
c Lucan, Pharſal, lib, 1. ver. 79. 


0 15 
controlled by faith and learning directed by piety will not 
only ſecure the preſent triumph of religion over philoſophy 
embattled and infidelity in arms, but will elevate us to be 
the humble inſtruments, in the hands of Providence, of 
tranſmitting to future ages this venerable ſtructure of Chriſ- 
tianity, not for ignorance to admire or prejudice to praiſe, 
but for experience to ſanction and gratitude to applaud, — 

not tobe recalled with regret as the occaſion of paſt gratu- 

lation or to be anticipated by hope as the ſource of future 

repoſe, but to be hailed by every ſucceeding generation as 
the object of preſent and palpable enjoyment, the depoſi- 
tory of the faith and the guardian of the unity of the 
church, Aſkilfully conſtructed, like the ark of old, to ſurvive 
the general deluge of impiety, and amply competent, amidſt 
the wreck of ſo many inſtitutions, for ever to prevent 
hereſy from contaminating our doctrines and ſchiſin from 
diſturbing | our r tranquillity! 


THE END. 


. 


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I. Tut ETERNAL FILIATION er ru SON or GO 
| On the Evipznce of the SackrD SCRIPTURES, 


The Conſent of the Fa TH ERS of the Three Firſt Centuries, Co 
| | ES e And the Authority of the Ni cENE Council. 


- 


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: PREACHED AT ST, GEORGE's CHURCH, LIVERPOOL, | 
Maxcn Tre ErGuTH, 1797, 


Being the Day appointed for a General Faſt, 


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