Untitled - Rore Sanctifica

94 The Difficulties of Re-union.
taught a doctrine, which till both pastors and
people have received thoroughly,
and made a
part of their very selves, as it were, any hope
of Re-union with the rest of Christendom is
futile. Before such an audience as this I need
not say that the best wav to teach this doctrine
V V
is the adoption of a high and noble Ritual, a
Ritual that shall compel the dullest and most
"
thoughtless to ask. What mean ye by this
service^" Men are so used to listen to mere
words, that they
care little for what is said
only. I was much struck with this
lately
in reading an article in an evening paper,
which very ably and perhaps more truly than
any other, represents
the mind of the educated
world around us. The drift of that article was,
"
Say what you please, we can believe you or
not, as we like ; but don t plague us with your
forms and ceremonies ; we are not obliged to
listen to your sermon, we can think about
something else till you have done ; but your
forms and ceremonies are an unmitigated
o
nuisance ; we can t get away from them ; they
are an overt act of aggression upon our peace
and comfort in Church which we won t stand."
Now there is great encouragement here to
persevere ; we have found out at last what will
arrest the attention of the indolent and thought
less ; even though it rouse the wrath and fury
of the world. But better far than this, we