A proposition so plain amounts, in fact, to a truism; yet it affords in itself, to my mind, and upon Christian principles, a sufficient vindication of the Society’s rule. Some escape the vigilance of the Bishop at ordination; and some fall away, like the unhappy Dr. Dodd, and others, from a state of considerable usefulness and credit. Thus it was in the earliest ages of the Church, and in the presence of extraordinary inspiration. A “_Demas_, _having loved this present world_,” forsook his master: and Paul prophesied, that, after his departure from Ephesus, “_grievous wolves_ should _enter in_, not sparing the flock.” “Also, _of your ownselves_,” adds he, “_shall men arise_, _speaking perverse things_, to draw away disciples after them:” Acts xx. 29, 30. Or, without speaking of our own times, to come to times bordering upon our own; who has not heard of an assembly of Divines of the Church of England meeting for the purpose of obtaining relief to their consciences from subscription to the Thirty-nine Articles, which they had already subscribed? These were men whom the Church Pastoral-Aid Society, Low-Church, or No-Church as it may be called, would never have supported from its funds, nor put itself in the way of doing so. Leave it in the hands of the Bishops to refuse their licence, is Dr. Molesworth’s _panacea_. Dr. Molesworth would throw all upon the Bishops.—And was it, Dr. Molesworth, not left in the hands of the Bishops at that very time, long before any Church Pastoral-Aid Society was heard of? I know it will be thought invidious, in more ways than one, to take the course I do, upon this proposition. I may content myself with Dr. Molesworth’s Apology to his Diocesan (p. 26), by affirming only with more reason, that “the importance of the subject requires that no courtesies should suppress _plain speaking_ upon it.” Towards the Episcopal body I would conduct myself with the utmost deference and respect. In what I shall say, I would refer but to the past. Are not Bishops elected at that time of life, in a majority of cases, which would preclude them from acting very long with the promptitude and vigour which Dr. Molesworth’s system would require? A remark to that effect fell from the lips of good Bishop Horne, as he ascended the steps to his episcopal palace at Norwich for the first time.