Transcribed from the [1877] Hatchards edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org Episcopal Fidelity. A SERMON PREACHED IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY, _St. James’s Day_, _Wednesday_, _July_ 25, 1877, ON THE OCCASION OF THE CONSECRATION OF THE RT. REV. ANTHONY WILSON THOROLD, D.D. LORD BISHOP OF ROCHESTER. * * * * * BY THE REV. SIR EMILIUS BAYLEY, BART. B.D. VICAR OF ST. JOHN’S, PADDINGTON. * * * * * _PUBLISHED BY REQUEST_. * * * * * LONDON: HATCHARDS, PICCADILLY _Price One Shilling_. * * * * * TO ANTHONY WILSON, LORD BISHOP OF ROCHESTER, This Sermon IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED. * * * * * ‘Our Reformers seem to have designed to leave a certain latitude on points which they regarded as not of fundamental importance; and if we would approve ourselves genuine disciples of those illustrious men, we must not seek to narrow the basis on which they reared their noble edifice, nor to exclude any whom they intended to admit. As however there are some differences which do not, so there are others also which do, imply the existence of principles adverse to the spirit of our Church, and the prevalence of these ought doubtless to be guarded against.’—ARCHBISHOP WHATELY, _On the Use and Abuse of Party-Feeling in Religion_. pp. 245, 246. ‘We are not to hold a society together by renouncing the objects of it; nor to part with our faith and our hope, as a means of attaining charity; but rather seek to combine the three; and by earnest zeal, without violence or bigotry,—by firmness, accompanied with moderation, discretion, and temper,—by conciliating adversaries without sacrificing the truth,—and by hearty yet mild co-operation with friends, to obtain the advantages of party-feeling, yet avoid its evils; and promote peace, without falling into indifference.’—_Ibid._ pp. 29, 30. A SERMON. ‘Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.’—1 _Tim._ iv. 16. OUR thoughts turn naturally to-day to the subject of the Christian ministry; and especially to that high office in it to which our brother in Christ is about to be admitted.