Untitled - Electric Scotland

1863-67] CHARGE OF 1866 469
own privileges and its own trials. The only way to live as a
Christian in that sphere which God from time to time assigns us
is to do our work humbly as in His sight. And, indeed, the
highest life, if we may venture to compare the privileges which
God assigns, is that of the truly Christian head of a family. Care
must be taken also that the worship of the community shall not
encourage exaggerated views of doctrine, such as every narrow
clique is prone to adopt ; and that tendency must be steadily
resisted which women often show to hang unduly on the guidance
of some priestly adviser, to be making confession to him, and to
become in fact his slaves.
"I cannot but hope that the great
difficulties which con
fessedly beset the proper regulation of such communities may be
grappled with. I am sure it is the part of us, the clergy, to make
the attempt, that we may secure the assistance of Sisters or
Deaconesses in work which in many of our parishes it is scarcely
possible to accomplish without their aid. And I cannot but
trust also that, as time goes on, many of these excellent women,
who at present adhere somewhat tenaciously to their own
peculiarities, will be ready to drop them learning in their labour
of love the infinite value of that simpler and purer Christianity
which alone sustains souls on the deathbeds to which they so
often minister becoming willing to sacrifice their own opinions,
from a growing truer devotion to our Reformed Church, and
prizing as they ought that larger field of usefulness which formal
hearty recognition, under proper rules by the clergy and authori
ties of the Church, would at once open to them. . . .
"
Certainly, brethren, we in London have need of every help.
We stand in the forefront of the battle. To us is committed the
most important position in that National Church which God has
to it the most difficult of His
chosen, that He may delegate
works to resist the barbarism which, in the overflowing popula
tion of a vast people, is apt to spring up side by side with the
highest refinement ; while in its labours amongst all classes,
battling against worldliness and infidelity and superstition,
does what it can to guide the religious thought of a great and
intelligent nation, and to advance thereby
tion of the world." l
the Christian civilisa
The reference above made to the cholera epidemic of
1
Charge of 1866, pp. 83-89.
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