LETTER

TO THE RIGHT REV. FATHER IN GOD,

RICHARD

LORD BISHOP OF OXFORD,

ON THE

TENDENCY TO ROMANISM

IMPUTED TO

DOCTRINES HELD OF OLD, AS NOW, IN THE

ENGLISH CHURCH.

BY THE

REV. E. B. PUSEY, D.D.

LATE FELLOW OF ORIEL COLLEGE;

REGIUS PROFESSOR OF HEBREW, AND CANON OF CHRIST CHURCH.

"To say that in nothing they may be followed which are of the Church of "Rome were violent and extreme. Some things they do in that they are men, in "that they are wise men and Christian men some things, some things in that "they are men misled and blinded with error. As far as they follow reason and "truth, we fear not to tread the selfsame steps wherein they have gone, and "be their followers. Where Rome keepeth that which is ancienter and better, "others whom we much more affect, leaving it for newer and changing it for "worse; we had rather follow the perfections of them whom we like not, than "in defects resemble those whom we love."

HOOKER, Book V. ch. xxviii. sect. 1.

"They which measure religion by dislike of the church of Rome, think every 66 man so much the more sound, by how much he can make the corruptions "thereof to seem more large.. .Wisdom therefore and skill is requisite to

"know, what parts are sound in that Church and what corrupted.

"Neither is it to all men apparent which complain of unsound parts, with "what kind of unsoundness every such part is possessed. They can say, that "in doctrine, in discipline, in prayers, in sacraments, the Church of Rome hath

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(as it hath indeed) very foul and gross corruptions; the nature whereof, not"withstanding, because they have not for the most part exact skill and know"ledge to discern, they think that amiss many times which is not; and the salve "of reformation they mightily call for, but where and what the sores are which "need it, as they wot full little, so they think it not greatly material to search." HOOKER, Book IV. ch. viii. sect. 2.

GILBERT & RIVINGTON, Printers, St. John's Square, London.

Α

LETTER,

&c.

MY DEAR LORD,

In ordinary times it is best and simplest to be silent amidst misrepresentations, and to commit our innocence to GOD, leaving it to Him to bring it out when to Him seems good; "As for me, I was like a deaf "man and heard not, and as one that is dumb, who "doth not open his mouth; I became even as a man "that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no re

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proofs for in Thee, O Lord, have I put my trust; "Thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my God 1." Extensive good to the many must always be purchased by the suffering of the few; it is a portion of the Cross which our LORD has bequeathed as a precious gift to His disciples, and they must take it humbly and thankfully; glad if they may indeed think that they have a portion of it, yet scarce venturing to decide for themselves whether it be in truth His Cross, or the chastisement of their own

1 Ps. xxxviii. 13-15.