The Bishop of Oxford opened on Thursday his triennial visita-
tion of his diocese in Aylesbury, and delivered a charge which has
only the defect of charging a good many different ways at once. The clergy were not to be uncharitable to Dissenters, but they were to be very " distinctive," and on no account associate themselves who felt " a certainty of Christ's presence and sacramental work- ing" with those in whom it "might be lacking." Then, as to science and the Book of Genesis, the Bishop entreated them not to ignore facts on either side. They were to read both the natural and revealed word of God, and, where they did not agree, to believe both. He was in favour of the clergy believing everything they signed, and of their signing no more than was necessary ; but he had not yet been shown exactly how the subscriptions could be im- proved. He would not alter the Burial Service, but be would not indulge hope for people who did not deserve it ; and so the Bishop proposes to revive excommunication, and not to use the service over the excommunicated. The Bishop's charge may be said to incul- cate equally the twin virtues of Faith and Ambiguity.
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