A LETTER TO HIS GRACE THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, ON SOME CIRCUMSTANCES. CONNECTED WITH THE PRESENT CRISIS IN THE ENGLISH CHURCH. BY THE REV. E. B. PUSEY, D.D. !! REGIUS PROFESSOR OF HEBREW, CANON OF CHRIST CHURCH, AND LATE FELLOW OF ORIEL COLLEGE. SECOND EDITION. OXFORD, JOHN HENRY PARKER; J. G. F. AND J. RIVINGTON, LONDON. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR GRACE, In times of less difficulty, it would be presumption in one in my inferior office to address your⠀⠀ Grace thus publicly, without any hint from yourself. when the storm is upon the vessel; they to whom its guidance is committed, listen patiently to any voice, however humble, telling of some peril, which, from their position, may not be equally obvious to themselves. The greatness of the emergency excuses the boldness which it calls forth. Suggestions, made even by the vulgar crowd, have been often profitable to the most perfect gladiators," is Tertullian's excuse for addressing those who were then occupying the fore-front of the battle, and soon to be enrolled in the "noble army of martyrs." Yet even thus, I can assure your Grace that it is with deep reluctance, that I have again come forward at all; much more, thus publicly to address your Grace and through you our other fathers, the Bishops of our Church. The natural repugnance which any one must feel at taking upon himself a task to which he has no apparent call, must be aggravated by the difficulties with which every thing is now encompassed. It is a far happier office to listen than to speak. It is painful to do what (notwithstanding all one may say) may seem like offering advice, when one had much rather simply obey, and where I do wish merely B |