,,the ,,real ,,question ,,as ,,to ,,altar ,,lights4 ,,christ',s ,,body ,,present ,,by ,,consecration1 ,,and ,,offered ,,in ,,the ,,sacrament ,,of ,,the ,,altar4 ,a ,,letter ,,to ,,the ,,rev4 ,,john ,w4 ,h4 ,,molyneux1 ,,by ,,edward ,j4 ,,phipps1 ,,rector ,,of ,,stansfield4 ,,london3 ,,longmans1 ,,green1 ,,reader ,,and ,,dyer4 ,,sudbury3 ,,henry ,s4 ,,pratt4 #ahfe4 ,stansfield ,rectory1 ,oct4 #acth1 #ahfe4 ,,my ,,dear ,,mr4 ,,molyneux1 ,i have read with much interest your correspondence with the ,bishop of ,ely on the subject of ,altar ,lights1 and as the course which the ,bishop has taken1 makes it of serious importance to every clergyman1 especially to those in the diocese of ,ely1 ,i have been giving it my best consideration4 ,i believe the facts were as follows3--,the ,bishop had given notice to hold a confirmation in ,s4 ,peter's ,church1 ,sudbury1 on the #ast ,may last1 being the festival of ,s4 ,philip and ,s4 ,james4 ,according to your custom you prepared for the celebration of the ,holy ,communion1 and as the ,bishop was staying at your house1 informed him of it1 of course anticipating his attendance4 ,his ,lordship1 however1 intimated that he understood you had ,lights on the ,altar at the ,communion1 that he objected to them1 and in consequence1 after discussing the matter with you1 ended by absenting himself altogether from the service4 ,some time after1 his ,lordship sends you ,dr4 ,twiss's opinion as given in your correspondence--pronounces ,altar ,lights illegal1 and informs you that though he acquits you of wilful disobedience on account of your ignorance of the ,law1 yet that no other course was open to him but that which he had adopted1 viz41 to abstain from ,communion with you1 and therefore in future1 with any other clergyman who may presume to introduce or retain them4 ,i am moreover informed that in accordance with this arrangement1 his ,lordship has intimated his intention to transfer the place of holding his visitation at ,sudbury1 from ,s4 ,peter's to ,all ,saints1 that is to say from a ,church where to say nothing more1 ,morning and ,evening ,prayer are said daily throughout the year1 to a ,church where this most positive and essential ,law of the ,church1 is wholly and habitually set at nought4 ,i certainly had not considered that the question of ,altar ,lights was of such vital importance4 ,the ,bishop has not even personal knowledge of their being used1 and yet without even complaint made1 without legal investigation or trial1 you are at once subjected to the heaviest punishment it is in the power of the ,church to inflict--you are cut off from ,communion with your ,bishop1 ipso facto excommunicate4 ,this result makes it1 ,i repeat1 highly important that it should be thoroughly ascertained1 whether and upon what grounds ,altar ,lights are illegal4 ,i believe the ordinary authority quoted for the use of ,altar ,lights1 is that they were 8in use0 in the second year of ,edward ,,vi41 and that the ,rubric of our present ,common ,prayer1 directs all such ornaments to be retained1 as were 8in use0 in that year by authority of ,parliament4 ,in the case of ,liddell v4 ,beal1 the ,crown by its supremacy has decided that the ornaments here spoken of are confined to those articles the use of which is prescribed by the first ,book of ,edward ,,vi4 ,it will be seen on reference to that ,book1 that the articles so prescribed are ,the ,altar--,vestments1 copes1 albe1 surplices1 tunicles1 corporals1 paten1 chalice1 and some other things4 ,altar ,lights are not mentioned amongst them1 and therefore cannot according to this decision be supported by this ,rubric4 ,but the advisers of the ,crown in the above case1 intimate their opinion1 that there were other things lawfully in use1 though not supported by express parliamentary authority1 such as crosses1 bells1 organs1 c4 ,and it would seem therefore1 that it is upon this ground that ,altar ,lights are to be supported4 ,in virtue of the supremacy transferred by parliament to the crown1 all ecclesiastical powers before exercised by the ,pope1 have been claimed and exercised by the ,sovereign4 ,and on the accession of ,edward ,,vi41 ,injunctions were issued1 and ,commissioners appointed by the ,crown1 to visit and reform all ,churches throughout ,england4 ,amongst the injunctions so issued1 was one expressly directing two ,lights to be kept upon the ,altar4 ,and by no subsequent authority1 either of the ,crown or ,parliament1 have these ,lights been directed to be removed4 ,in common with all other good church observances1 they have at various times1 been violently opposed4 ,queen ,elizabeth1 however1 8that bright occidental star10 ,king ,james ,i4 and the successive ,english ,sovereigns1 have uniformly continued them in the ,royal ,chapels--they were constantly in use in the chapels of ,laud--,bishop ,andrewes 7a predecessor of the ,bishop of ,ely7 and ,lord ,burleigh--and they are to be found still1 on the ,altars of1 ,i believe1 all the ,cathedrals1 and most of the ,collegiate and greater ,churches of the ,land4 ,there is indeed one peculiarity connected with the present use of them2 the ,church prescribes ,lights1 the present practice proscribes ,lights1 and sets up 8dead lights10 7unlighted candles74 ,whether this proceeds from that slovenly and irreverent carelessness1 which has crept into so many of our ,church arrangements1 or from that weak and miserable system of compromise1 which never does and never ought to succeed1 it is equally to be deprecated4 ,if the ,law orders ,lights1 to have candles and not to light them is to disobey the ,law4 ,it reminds me of the 8guinea in the pocket with strict injunctions never to change it0--of the sage conclusion of the humorous poem1 8,when nose used the spectacles1 eyes should be shut20 it becomes thus an idle vanity1 and an inconsistent unlawful superstition4 ,besides1 the subject of ,altar ,lights has been regularly mooted in the ,ecclesiastical ,courts1 and no question made of their legality4 ,dr4 ,twiss1 indeed1 in a curt and obscure statement1 says the injunction does not apply to ,communion ,tables4 ,i confess ,i cannot see upon what grounds he makes this assertion1 or rather perhaps ,i do not comprehend what he means by it4 ,if it is intended to say that the ,altar is taken away1 and therefore all that is commanded to be set upon it is taken away also1 in that case the ,holy ,sacrament itself must disappear1 for the command is express also1 to set the ,holy ,elements upon the ,altar4 ,but in truth1 is there any sufficient authority to be quoted1 for the abolition of ,altars throughout ,england8 ,the ,crown order to ,ridley in #aeej1 was for his own diocese alone4 ,the order in #aeei1 was1 for the setting up ,communion ,tables where ,altars had been violently pulled down2 and ,i am not aware1 that any other ,crown or ,parliamentary authority has ever directed the destruction of ,english ,altars4 ,and here ,i think we ought to be on our guard1 against being led away by irregular proceedings1 or the opinions and acts of individuals4 ,the only authorities which can bind the ,english ,church are the ,crown and ,parliament4 ,no violent acts of mobs--no opinions of 8,reformers10 even though called 8,venerable10 are of the slightest legal force in determining doctrine or practice2 legal1 political and religious reformers may all be of use in their generation1 but their acts and opinions are those of individuals1 and nothing more4 ,and if the acts and opinions of religious reformers of a past generation1 are to be considered1 why are we to shut out those of the reformers of this present reforming generation8 ,why 8build the sepulchres of the ,prophets0 and despise or persecute their successors8 ,in the very matter of 8ornaments0 now in question1 we hear of the ,bishops of ,oxford and ,salisbury each assuming the ancient ensign of their office--the pastoral staff4 ,only a short time since the ,archdeacon of ,sudbury1 himself a ,venerable ,reformer in the ,church1 introduced the ,queen of ,hawaii at ,bury1 and pleaded for the ,church ,mission established in those islands4 ,and yet a few weeks before at the confirmation of the young ,king of ,hawaii the ,anglican ,bishop was vested in albe and cope1 mitred1 with episcopal ring and pastoral staff4 ,and this is also as it ought to be4 ,as majesty without its externals is a jest1 so religion has no right to dispense with them4 ,under these circumstances ,i cannot but think that there is amply sufficient prima facie evidence1 to warrant an honest belief that you have legal authority for your ,altar ,lights--and ,i confess1 therefore1 that ,i cannot understand why the very suspicion of adopting them1 should cut off a ,priest from ,communion with his ,bishop4 ,but by far the most important aspect of this question1 is that in connection with the doctrine of the ,holy ,eucharist4 ,independently of its being an obedience to the ,law1 you1 with many others1 have restored ,lights to their place on the ,altar1 as a much needed aid to revive something of that reverence and faith which is so grievously deficient in the ,english ,church4 ,i believe they have a certain limited power in conducing to this end4 ,but a far more powerful1 indeed as ,i think1 the only efficient means1 under ,god1 of creating faith and reverence1 is to have a clear1 definite1 positive1 belief ourselves1 and to endeavour to express it in the simplest and plainest language4 ,there is no doctrine on which plain unmistakable language is more necessary1 than that of the ,holy ,eucharist4 ,i fear a vast number of ,church people do not know what to believe4 ,a great multitude of poor honest people believe the ,eucharist to be nothing but a simple ceremony1 and not a few1 even of the clergy1 believe the very contrary to the truth4 ,formerly1 in my recollection1 to believe in the ,real ,presence1 was universally held to be the distinguishing and erroneous doctrine of ,catholics1 in opposition to ,protestants4 ,we have now advanced so far as to teach a ,presence1 which however no one can understand to be a ,presence1 obscured as it is with terms of 8a spiritual presence10 and 8the means of apprehending it being faith40 ,and thus in our ,communion1 the great service of the ,church is almost entirely forsaken of the masses of the people1 the great bulk of the people are uncommunicated1 and have substituted for the ,catholic faith and religion1 a system of mere sermon hearing4 ,but in reality the true doctrine of the ,church is plain enough4 ,the commanded ,elements of ,bread and ,wine are placed on the ,altar1 they are then1 simply ,bread and ,wine2 in virtue of the words of ,institution or ,consecration they become1 and1 are ,christ's ,body and ,blood2 present1 not indeed in an ordinary1 natural1 physical manner1 such as our external senses can take cognizance of1 but in a special1 mystical1 supernatural manner1 as we sometimes call it spiritual2 not meaning hereby1 mere spirit1 in opposition to body1 but as the ,apostle tells us1 8there is a spiritual ,body40 ,it is not ,christ's natural ,body1 subsisting according to the ordinary operation of what we call the ,laws of ,nature1 but it is ,his glorified ,body1 that ,body1 which came suddenly1 and stood in the midst of his disciples when the doors were shut2 which vanished out of their sight2 which was seen of ,s4 ,stephen1 and appeared to ,s4 ,paul2 the archetype of that perfection1 in which our bodies were first created in the image of ,god1 and to which they shall be restored and made like when ,he shall subdue all things to ,himself4 ,the ,holy ,elements having thus become ,christ's ,body1 they are the source of life1 and grace1 and blessing of every kind1 to those who1 to use the divine language1 8eat10 become partakers of1--are united with them4 ,in discoursing of1 and admitting the supernatural1 we at once put aside the consideration of physical laws2 we at once admit that things supernatural pass the limits of our finite intelligence4 ,but1 as the ,holy ,scriptures describe the operations of ,god to us1 in terms of human comprehension1 such as eyes1 hands1 arms1 c41 so in the word 8eat10 we understand not alone a physical perception1 but far more4 ,to describe the divinely appointed method1 the external means1 the connecting link1 7so to speak7 by which the ,divine agency is pleased to operate on ,christians1 we are bidden to ,take1 eat1 and by it we understand soul-feeding1 a uniting of the glorified ,body of ,christ with ours4 8,he that eateth me shall live by me10 saith our ,lord4 ,there is a deep meaning here2 8,the words that ,i speak unto you1 they are spirit and they are life40 ,in this full sense of eating therefore1 we understand1 not only the act of 8carnally pressing with the teeth1 the ,sacrament of ,christ's ,body10 as ,s4 ,augustine saith 7for it is ,christ's ,body that all do so press71 but those further dispositions of mind1 which enable ,christians to unite with ,him1 and which are described in the language of the ,church as 8a true and lively faith40 ,and thus it follows1 that they who have not the due dispositions of mind1 obtain not that full and perfect union of ,christ's ,body with their own1 which is appointed by our ,lord1 to be the great ,christian source of life and grace4 ,john vi4 #ec1 #ed4 ,after the elements have been consecrated1 they become ,christ's ,body4 ,the 8,faith0 or qualifications of the receiver have nothing to do with the ,real ,supernatural ,presence of ,christ in the ,sacrament2 and this point cannot be too strongly insisted on1 when1 as at present1 the most solemn and positive doctrines of the ,church of all ages and nations1 are concealed1 avoided1 or explained away1 in deference to a miserably short-sighted policy of expediency1 under the name of moderation4 ,that therefore which has been consecrated--which is 8given1 taken1 and received0 by all communicants1 is1 as the #bhth ,article1 and the solemn words of delivery expressly declare--the ,body of ,christ--and this is to be understood in the simplest1 plainest sense of language without a shadow of ambiguity or refinement4 ,to every one receiving therefore1 there is a sacramental impartation of ,christ's ,body--to the humble1 faithful ,penitent1 it is not only the ,presence of1 but union with his ,lord--according to his fitness is the benefit he receives--8,according to your faith be it unto you40 ,but to the mocker1 the godless1 the profane2 the actual receiving of ,christ's ,body is no benefit1 but rather injury--as was said of the unbelieving ,jews--8,seeing1 they see not1 and hearing1 they hear not40 ,so these1 eating1 they eat not--not having the necessary spiritual powers and faculties for receiving and uniting themselves with ,christ2 they have not that identification of their life with ,him1 that personal actual knowledge of ,him1 in which standeth or consisteth eternal life--they are like the multitude who thronged and touched our ,lord1 deriving no benefit from the contact2 not having the simple earnest faith of the poor woman who touched ,him for her disease--they cannot be made whole by the virtue that proceedeth from ,him4 ,there is another great doctrine1 in connection with the ,holy ,eucharist1 which has of late been grievously neglected2 ,i mean the ,doctrine of the ,sacrifice4-- ,to state this doctrine in full1 to discuss and remove objections1 would require a treatise of itself4 ,briefly then1 ,i would state1 that the sacrificial character of the ,eucharist is perhaps its highest and chief end4 ,the glory of ,god--the fulfilment of ,his will and work1 is the supreme object of man's existence--man's own welfare is but secondary4 ,operating therefore to counteract the treasonable idolatry with which man serves and loves the creature rather than the ,creator1 ,god has ever instituted certain material observances by which ,he has appointed man to recognize and serve ,him1 and to become vehicles of ,communion with ,his ,creature4 ,thus1 days have been taken from time--places from the earth--substances and persons from ,his creatures1 which ,he has required to be wholly diverted from their ordinary use1 and devoted in special ways to ,himself--the ,sabbath--the ,sanctuary--the ,sacrifice--the ,priesthood1 were thus appointed to the ,jews--,the ,lord's ,day--the ,parish ,church--the ,holy ,sacrifice of the ,eucharist and the ,priesthood--have the same object and office with us ,christians4 ,they are our means of worshipping and serving ,god--our first great duty1 irrespective of all personal considerations1 although in the merciful ,providence of ,god1 our fulfilment of these obligations1 is fraught with the greatest benefit to ourselves4 ,on the sacred time then1 at the sacred place1 we come to offer the sacred offering2 but what shall we bring8 ,ourselves1 our substance1 our devotions1 are all imperfect and stained with sin4 ,all were too little to testify our duty--all utterly impotent to obtain our needs4 ,in the service then1 of the ,holy ,communion1 we offer unto ,god1 an offering far more precious and acceptable than any earthly object--we offer1 present1 the ,consecrated elements1 the sacred ,body of our ,lord supernaturally present1 after1 and by means of consecration4 ,before the ,throne of ,grace no sacrifice can be so perfect1 no plea so prevailing1 as when we interpose between ourselves and the ,majesty of ,god1 the ,person of ,his ,adorable ,son4 ,this then1 is the great doctrine of the ,eucharist--this1 the highest act of religion that we can celebrate2 and to assist1 be present at1 take part in this great act of religious duty1 is the bounden obligation of every member of the ,church4 ,i do not now attempt to prove these things--they have been1 thank ,god1 repeatedly asserted and enforced by ancient and modern divines of the greatest piety and learning in the ,church of ,england2 nor have any of the ,church ,rulers ventured to deny the doctrines1 or repress1 or punish those who teach them4 ,but what is needed1 is to have these things set forth in plain language1 8understanded of the people10 in earnest1 vigorous1 popular 7in the sense of common7 methods4 ,if these great doctrines of the ,church were taught in their fulness without reserves and refinements1 the plain honest people would come to understand what the ,church meant2 that there was a distinction between the ,church and dissent1 beyond personal prejudices and feelings4 ,if the boundaries were well defined--if the separation was by a wall 7even a low one71 instead of a ragged hedge1 ,churchmen and dissenters would have fewer occasions of quarrel2 for bad boundaries make bad neighbours3 there would be more charity1 they might converse amicably1 and shake hands over it1 each clearly knowing and keeping within his limit4 ,and if the doctrine of the ,real ,presence were taught1 believed1 and felt1 there would be less of that grevious1 crying sin of irreverence1 which is so lamentably and universally prevalent in the ,church2 people1 even clergy1 now enter a ,church without even any attempt to manifest reverence2 they stare about1 talk loud1 on the most ordinary and trifling matters2 the only attitude you never see them assume is that of reverence and prayer4 ,in the ,churches of the ,roman obedience--enter them when you will--you see people on their knees1 absorbed in their devotions4 ,even putting aside the principle of duty1 is it wise to persevere in this system of disingenuous ambiguity8 does it commend itself by its success8 ,the majority of the upper classes 7ten thousand they have been termed7 are probably supporters of the ,church--,churchmen4 ,are the tradesmen and middle classes so8 are they not the chief strength and support of dissent4 ,and the poor people--the masses in modern phrase--the real life and strength of the nation1 as they are proclaimed to be when their support is needed2 are they ,churchmen8 ,i think they are2 their humble quiet spirit warms to her teaching1 and only looks for more emphatic and clear enunciation of it4 ,if the ,church rose to the discharge of her duty1 plainly taught her great doctrines1 and gave warrant for her sincerity by a speaking and glorious ritual1 then would the people rally to her support4 ,but at present1 though ,churchmen1 it is to be feared that the masses are but nominally so4 ,they go to ,church where there is no meeting house2 but if one be at hand1 they will frequent it1 as readily as the ,church4 ,in fact1 they are not taught1 and they see no difference2 and they are too plain and honest not to act on their convictions4 ,i do hope then that we may be entering on a better system1 a system of plain dealing1 calling things by their own names1 irrespective of possible consequences4 ,lord ,capel1 one of the most consistent and high-minded amongst the ,royalist ,leaders under ,charles #ast41 immediately before his execution for the defence of ,colchester1 solemnly charged his family to make ,ps4 xxvii4 #aa1 as he always had done1 a part of their daily prayers--8,teach me ,thy way ,o ,lord1 and lead me in a plain path40 ,the question of ,altar ,lights then derives its whole importance from its relation to the great doctrines of the ,sacrament2 they are1 as it were1 the ,colours of the ,regiment1 of which the late ,sir ,william ,napier used to say1 they were the pivot on which everything turned--,defend the ,colours--,form on the ,colours--,recover the ,colours1 was an appeal understood by all1 and stirred the strongest and deepest energies of every man4 ,i can only hope in conclusion1 that the candles which you have lighted may 8rekindle such a flame in ,england1 as by ,god's blessing1 shall never be extinguished10 and only wishing that the first discussion of the matter had fallen into more learned and abler hands1 ,i am1 my ,dear ,mr4 ,molyneux1 ,yours very sincerely1 ,,edward ,j4 ,,phipps4 ,,the ,,end4 #f ,,ja #ff ,transcriber's ,note ,in this file1 text in italics is indicated by underscores4 ,no changes were made by the transcriber to the text as printed4