BY MAYOW WYNELL MAYOW, M.A., PERPETUAL CURATE OF ST. MARY’S, WEST BROMPTON, AND LATE STUDENT OF CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD. “The principles of Christianity are now as freely questioned as the most doubtful and controverted points; the grounds of faith are as safely denied as the most unnecessary superstructions; that religion hath the greatest advantage which appeareth in the newest dress, as if we looked for another faith to be delivered to the saints: whereas in Christianity there can be no concern

The following Sermons were preached at St. Mary’s, West Brompton, in November and December, 1866.  They are now printed as a humble contribution towards the defence of the Catholic doctrine of the priesthood, the altar, and the sacrifice, in days when there seem no limits to assault upon it, when there prevails every conceivable confusion between what is Catholic and what is Roman, and when there is the widest misapprehension of the principles of our Reformation.  If this small volume should con

2 CORINTHIANS iv. 7. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” The words rendered “in earthen vessels,” are easy enough as to their general sense.   Ἐν ὀστρακίνοις σκεύεσιν , (the Apostle says,) where σκεύος may stand for any kind of utensil or household stuff.  It is the word used in St. Matthew, “How can one enter a strong man’s house and spoil his goods ;” [1] any of his household stuff or possessions; whilst ὀστράκίνοιν , (

JOB i. 5. “Thus did Job continually.” That which such a man as Job “did continually,” we shall naturally conclude was well-pleasing in the sight of God.  The Almighty’s own witness to his character is given in His Word addressed to Satan: “Hast thou considered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” [23]   And when we couple this with the circumstances to which the text relates, and the tone of the whole n

1 CORINTHIANS x. 18. “Are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?” I resume the subject upon which I have spoken on two previous Sundays—the reality of the Christian priesthood, altar, and sacrifice. I endeavoured to shew in the first of these discourses that it was no argument against the truth of the priesthood that they who hold it have “this treasure in earthen vessels,” that a priest is like and “of like passions” with others, nay, is “weak as another man.”  In the seco

JEREMIAH vi. 16. “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” The next division of our enquiry is, the understanding of Holy Scripture in the primitive Church as to the priesthood, the altar, and the sacrifice, and its consequent doctrine thereupon.  Before, however, proceeding to this examination, let me briefly remind you of the point in the argument from Holy Scripture at which

ST. JOHN xx. 22, 23. “And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” In the brief outline which I have submitted in these discourses of the evidences for the doctrine of the Christian priesthood, altar, and sacrifice, I first met the objection sometimes made to there being any such treasure (in our Church at any rate) because lodged in ear

HEBREWS xiii. 10. “We have an Altar.” I resume our subject: the priesthood, altar and sacrifice in the Christian Church, and the mind of the Church of England upon it.  On Sunday last we treated of this in part, shewing in relation to it what were the “old paths,” and pointing to the proof that our Church walks in them, recognising and maintaining a true priesthood in those who minister at her altars, by the solemn committal to them of the power of absolution, a thing which she would not do upon

HEBREWS xiii. 10. “We have an Altar.” It may be well, before we proceed with our general subject, to call your attention to one particular as to the course of our argument.  You may have observed that I have not, except here and there incidentally, entered into any examination of the nature of the Christian sacrifice itself, any more than I have into any details or particulars of the doctrine of absolution, such as its power and effect, or the necessary limitations to be understood in its applic

COLOSSIANS ii. 3. “In Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” The preceding verses will tell us “of whom speaketh” the Apostle this.  Having declared what great conflict he had for his converts at Colosse and “for them at Laodicea, and for as many as had not seen his face in the flesh,” he tells them that this his conflict and desire for them was, that their “hearts might be comforted; being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to th