PRAYER BOOK REVISION
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sra,—It is admitted that the Articles, with the old- Prayer Book, ire the doctrinal standard of the Church of England. The nature of the Sacraments, and the way of miisistering them accordant thereto, are so fundamental a part of the Articles that it is impossible for any sort of public assent to be honestly and intelligently given to -them by a man who holds quite other opinions about the nature of the Sacraments, or intends to do in ministering them that which the Articles wholly prohibit : and they do wholly prohibit Reservation, as I have shown ; and the old Prayer Book prohibits it, too.
If I was mistaken in asserting that the assent has to be avowedly Unfeigned, i would only say that for an honourable man there is no difference between assent and Unfeigned assent : and if there are many who are false to the assent which they gave as a condition Of being ordained, or of holding' office in the Church, their number is a cause for regret, but it does not make falsehood less false. A theft is no less a theft because thieves are numerous.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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