BY THOMAS WILLIAM ALLIES, M.A. RECTOR OF LAUNTON, OXON. LONDON: LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1849. London : Spottiswoodes and Shaw , New-street-Square. TO OUR SPIRITUAL MOTHER, THE CHURCH IN ENGLAND, IN THE HOPE THAT ALL HOLY EXAMPLES MAY PROVOKE US TO LOVE AND TO GOOD WORKS....

Of the vast number of English men and English women who have travelled on the Continent in late years, comparatively few, I imagine, have deemed it worth their while to give much thought and attention to the action of the Church in the countries they have visited. Doubtless all have entered the material fabrics of Roman Catholic worship, but generally it has been to treat them as public monuments, rather than as "the house of prayer for all nations." But how many of those travellers who enjoy le

Tuesday, June 24. — Reached Southampton from Oxford in good time, and left by the packet at 10 P.M. We passed the experimental fleet off Portsmouth, had a very fair passage, and were at the mouth of Havre about ten: but for two hours we could not enter; the swell was considerable. At Havre, took our places to Ivetot, which we reached about half-past-nine. The country rich but uninteresting. Ivetot, June 26. 1845. Thursday. —We called on M. Labbé a little before ten, and were with him till half-p

Hotel Windsor, Rue de Rivoli, 7th July, 1847.      My dear ——. * * * The weather for the last three or four days has been melting. We have had plenty to do, and have been well occupied, instructed, and pleased. Last evening we dined with M. Defresne, a very clever, able, and energetic talker. He is a great friend of the old Royal Family, and calls Louis Philippe the greatest scoundrel under the sun. We met l'Abbé Pététot, curé of St. Louis d'Antin, one of the parishes of Paris, with 18,000 inhab

Paris. Windsor Hotel, Rue de Rivoli, July 18. 1848. — I have been nine days in France, and the kindness of friends has not left me an hour to put down my thoughts. Yet assuredly, in so utter a change of one's usual habits and sights, the mind has been more affected than during many weeks of sedentary occupations. But when one has been profoundly moved either by a religious service, or a conversation, or place or building, it is a great effort to sit down, collect one's thoughts, and turn one's e

There are certain doctrines in the Roman Catholic Church, which are brought into such prominence in practice, and are in their own nature so very powerful, that they make that faith appear in its actual exercise quite another thing from the faith prevailing among ourselves, although there be really no essential difference between the true mind of the English, and that of the Roman Church. I say the true mind , that which forms the basis of the Prayer Book; that of which the Prayer Book faithfull

"Let seminaries be instituted for the education of the clergy in piety, religion, and ecclesiastical discipline."- Council of Trent. This general object of the seminary includes the following particular objects:— 1. That he should reform within himself the false maxims of the world by the principles of the faith. "Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord. The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth; proving what is acceptable unto the Lord." Eph.

"And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." Heb. v. 4. "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you." John, xv. 16. In order to know whether he is called by God to the ecclesiastical estate, the seminarist studies the marks of vocation, and gives an account to his director of his actual disposition, and of his conduct before his entry into the seminary. The principal marks of vocation are— 1. To have no other intention but the glory of God and the s

"If any one has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." Rom. viii. 9. The seminarist who wishes to profit by his stay in the seminary, and by its exercises, strives to direct his conduct and actions according to the spirit of our Lord, which is entirely opposed to that of the world. The features of that spirit are— 1. To give oneself to God without reserve, and to do for Him all one's actions. "My son, give me thy heart." Prov. xxiii. 26. "Do all to the glory of God." 1 Cor. x. 31. 2. Deta

"He who heareth my words and doeth them shall be likened unto a wise man who built his house upon the rock." Matt. vii. 24. The seminarist proposes during his stay to confirm himself, by frequent meditation, in the maxims of the faith as to the fundamental truths of salvation, and of ecclesiastical perfection, and to conform his whole life to them. 1. Salvation. "One thing is needful." Luke, x. 42. "What doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Matt. xvi. 26. 2.

"As many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy." Gal. vi. 16. 1. Faithfulness to the general rule is for the seminarist the most assured means of sanctification, and the most excellent preparation for the holy ministry. By fulfilling it perfectly he is constantly pleasing to God: inasmuch as he conforms himself in all things to His holy will. "Obey them that have the rule over you." Heb. xiii. 17. "I do always those things that please Him." John, viii. 29. 2. He regards the

"He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much." Luke, xvi. 10. The seminarist takes all pains to draw up well his particular rule, and to leave out nothing of whatever can contribute to his sanctification. 1. He marks out the employment of every moment of the day which is not destined to common exercises, as well as how he will occupy himself on festivals or days of leave. "Let all things be done in order." 1 Cor. xiv. 40. 2. He sets before him an intention for every acti

"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." 1 Tim. iv. 12. "In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works; in doctrine uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity." Tit. ii. 7. The seminarist regards the seminary as a school of Christian and ecclesiastical virtues, which he must acquire before he enters upon the holy ministry. 1. He sets before him constantly, as example, our Lord Jesus Christ. "I ha

"Exercise thyself unto godliness. "Godliness is profitable unto all things." 1 Tim. iv. 7, 8. Practices of devotion support piety, and contribute to progress in holiness and perfection. The most suitable to the seminarist are: 1. Devotion towards the august Trinity. "So God loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son." John, iii. 16. "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth." John, xvi. 17. 2. Devotion

"Give attendance to reading." 1 Tim. iv. 13. The reading of works which develop the rules and spirit of the seminary, which treat of Christian and ecclesiastical virtues, of fitness to receive holy orders, as likewise that of the lives of saints, is indispensable to the seminarist. The following are those which he will chiefly read: Manual of Piety. 8th edition. The Good Seminarist. 2d edition. Practice of Direction, of the monthly Retreat, and of Monition. Manual of the Seminarist. By M. Tronso

"Ask council of all that are wise." Job, iv. 18. One of the most important exercises for maintaining fidelity to one's duties, and for acquiring perfection, is communication with the director. It is the means of avoiding self-deception, fickleness, disturbance, and lukewarmness. The seminarist will find, in careful reading of the preceding articles, what ought to form the matter of his direction. He will make a special point of the following particulars, which he should never omit in intercourse

"I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably to her." Hos. ii. 14. The object of the monthly retreat is: 1. More deeply to examine the conscience; 2. To make firmer resolutions for the correction of faults; 3. To choose the most effective means to advance in virtues, and specially to be confirmed in the life of faith, and in contempt of the world, by a serious preparation for death. In order to profit by this exercise, the seminarist sets before him the following

"Which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" Luke, xiv. 28. One of the principal duties of the seminarist is to prepare himself with the greatest care for receiving holy orders, considering that, in proportion to the preparation, is the abundance of the grace which they confer. 1. He will read attentively the Pontifical, and works treating of ordination, to learn the excellence of holy orders, their office, the