far…sighted men say it is sure to e at last；you will be obliged to
cast yourselves on the aid of the laity； whether you like it or not。
Even if it does not e； you will never be really strong； unless you
place the laity in their rightful position。 As to the vague talk about
sacrilege； it is all nonsense。 Touch the idea with the Ithuriel spear
of Scripture； and it will vanish away。
（b） But 〃it is a dangerous reform；〃 some men will cry。 〃The laity will
take the reins into their hands； and lord it over the consciences of
the clergy。〃 Such fears are simply ridiculous。 There is far more real
danger in letting the laity sit idle； and giving them no active
interest in the Church's affairs。 I have a better opinion of the laity
than these alarmists have。 The new ecclesiastical machinery may work
awkwardly at first； like a new steam…engine； when its joints are stiff；
and its bearings hot。 The laity may not understand at first what they
have to do。 But give them time； give them time。 Show them that you
trust them； and make them see what is wanted； and I have no doubt the
laity would soon settle down in their place； and work with a will。
Remember how admirably the Irish laity set their house in order after
Disestablishment； and have more faith in English laymen。
（c） 〃But it is a useless reform；〃 some men will finally cry。 〃The laity
are unfit to advise bishops； or sit in Church councils； or give an
opinion about the fitness of incumbents。〃 I do not believe it for one
moment。 The lay members of our Church may not be critics of Greek or
Hebrew； or deep theologians； pared to many of the clergy。 But many
of them have quite as much grace； and quite as much knowledge of the
English Bible。 Above all； they have； as a rule； much more mon sense
than the clergy。 No man can be ignorant of that who knows how our best
laymen conduct themselves on the mittees of our great religious
Societies。 The observation of Lord Clarendon about the clerical body
is； alas！ only too true。 After long experience； he declared his
conviction that 〃clergymen understand the least； and take the worst
measure of human affairs of all mankind that can write or read。〃 I
fear； if he lived in the present day； he would not give us； as a body；
a much better character。 Nothing； I firmly believe； would be such an
advantage to the Church as to leaven all its action with a judicious
mixture of the lay element。 The true cause of half the Church's
mistakes in these latter days has been the absence of the laity from
their rightful place。
The greatest peril of the Established Church in this day consists in
the favourite policy of total inaction which pleases so many； and their
inability to see that we are in danger。 〃A little more sleep！ a little
more slumber！ Why cannot you let things alone？〃 This is the reply
continually made when Church reforms are spoken of； and pressed on
men's attention。 〃Why should we fear？〃 they cry。 〃There is no real
danger。〃 Will any one tell me there is no inward danger； when the real
presence； and the Romish confessional； and ecclesiastical lawlessness；
and Home Rule； are quietly tolerated on one side； and the atonement；
and Christ's divinity； and the inspiration of Scripture； and the
reality of miracles； are coolly thrown overboard on the other？ Will any
one tell me there is no outward danger； when infidels； Papists； and
Dissenters are hungering and thirsting after the destruction of the
Establishment； and passing sea and land to acplish their
ends？What Z no danger； when myriads of our working classes never
enter the walls of our Church； and would not raise a finger to keep her
alive； while by household suffrage they have got all power into their
hands！ What！ no danger； when the Irish Church has been disestablished；
the Act of Union has been trampled under foot； Protestant endowments
have been handed over to Papists； the thin edge of the wedge for
severing Church and State has been let in； and the statesman who did
all this is still alive； and thought by many to be infallible。 No
danger； indeed！ I can find no words to express my astonishment that men
say so。 But； alas！ there are never wanting men who； having eyes see
not； and having ears hear not； and who will not understand。
The Established Church of England is in danger。 There is no mistake
about it。 This is the one broad； sweeping reason why I advocate Church
reforms。 There is a 〃handwriting on the wall；〃 flashing luridly from
the other side of St。 George's Channel； which needs no Daniel to
interpret it。 There is a current setting in towards the
Disestablishment of all National Churches； and we are already in it。 We
are gradually drifting downwards； though many perceive it not； but
those who look at the old landmarks cannot fail to see that we move。 We
shall soon be in the rapids。 A few； a very few years； and； unless we
exert ourselves； we shall be over the falls。 The English public seems
drunk with the grand idea of 〃free trade〃 in everything； in religion as
well as in merce； in churches as well as in corn。 A portion of the
daily press is constantly harping on the subject。 And shall we sit
still and refuse to set our house in order？ I； for one； say； God
forbid！ Shall we wait till we are turned out into the street and
obliged to reform ourselves in the midst of a hurricane of confusion？
I； for one； say； God forbid！ The experienced general tells us that it
is madness to change front in the face of an enemy。 If we believe that
danger is impending over the Church Establishment； let us not wait till
the storm bursts。 Let us gird up our loins while we can； and attempt
Church reforms。
1。 I now mend the whole subject to the prayerful attention of the
clergy。 〃Consider what I say； and the Lord give you understanding in
all things。〃 Oh that I could blow a trumpet in the ear of every rector
and vicar in England； and awaken him to a sense of the Church's danger！
The horizon is very black。 I believe it is our time of visitation。 It
is no time to fold our arms and sit still。 Is our Church going to live
or die？ If we would defend her； we must 〃set in order the things that
are wanting；〃 and aim at Church reforms。
2。 I mend the whole subject to the minds of all thoughtful lay
Churchmen。 I invite you to assist us in maintaining the Church of our
forefathers； the old Protestant Church of England； and to e forward
and take up your rightful place and position。 It is your best policy to
do so。 Except clergy and laity close their ranks and work shoulder to
shoulder； we shall never hold the fort； and win the day。 It would be
your happiness to do so。 You would find a rich reward for your soul in
activity for Christ's cause in this sinful world； and being general
fellow…helpers with your clergy。 Think what an immense blessing one
single layman like Lord Shaftesbury may be to the land in which he
lives。 Think what England might be if we had a hundred more lay
Churchmen like him。 You would soon find out the enormous luxury of
doing good； and being useful to your fellow…creatures。 Just now you
would give new life to the Church of England； render her； by God's
blessing； invincible by her foes； and hand her down to your children's
children； 〃Fair as the moon； clear as the sun； and terrible as an army
with banners 〃 （Cant。 6：10）。
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NOTE。
I mend to all readers of this sermon the following extract from a
leading article in the Guardian newspaper of January 5； 1870。 From such
a quarter； testimony to the importance of the 〃Position of Laity〃 is
doubly valuable：
〃We have shown； we trust； that we are far from insensible to the
dangers that might possibly arise from the admission of the laity to a
larger degree of authority and influence than they now enjoy in the
Anglican munion as known within these isle