SIE,—Will you allow me to refer to your article on
" The Spirit of the Anglican Church " in the Spectator of October 15th? In it you refer favourably to two points, —viz., comprehension, and dependence upon the State. But is this comprehension really a good thing ? The New Testa- ment Ecclesia was simply a gathering of believing people, and by its character became necessarily separated from the un- godly community around. Now so long as comprehension means the exceedingly promiscuous membership of the Church of England as it exists to-day, such an assembly loses an important characteristic of a Christian Church. And for such a community to have on the one hand members who are Romanists, and on the other hand those who are un- believing critics, who are by their writings undermining Holy Scripture, is neither useful nor Scriptural. In regard to your remark on the dependence of the Church of England upon the State, that, " under God, Parliament—King, Lords, and Commons—is the true head of the Church," this is no doubt perfectly true of the Church of England, and therefore a Prime Minister who happens to be an agnostic, or even a man of immoral character, has the power of nominating her Bishops. Is this right? Is it Scriptural ? It is really in direct opposition to the sovereign rights of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it casts dishonour upon Him.—I am, Sir, &c., Newport on Tay. ROBERT ANDERSON.
THE MODERN PARENT.
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