1 86 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1/86 



Strenuous efforts at our last general Convention to bring that clause 

 forward respecting the control of the laity over the appointment of 

 bishops, and which may be made a handle of to prejudice many against 

 other parts of our proceedings. 



My learned but zealous high church little friend and relation (as he 

 says), Mr. Smith, of Somerset, writes me as follows — which perhaps he 

 did not yet wish me to communicate to you, although I believe he cares 

 not who sees what he writes, yet you will keep it to yourself till I can 

 see him, which will be in two, weeks — but I lose the thread of my dis- 

 course — I say Mr. Smith, who says he has just received a long letter 

 from Bishop Seabury on the same subject, with an account of their 

 Connecticut Constitution, writes thus : 



I have been looking all this while for a sight of the Prayer Book altered, and by a 

 letter from Dr. White I understand it is hurrying on. A passage in that letter I did 

 not and do not now perceive the propriety of — it is this — " I suppose you have heard 

 of our application to the English Bishops, the Convention was far from wishing to show 

 any disrespect to the Scots Episcopacy, etc." 



And so he gives me a long extract of your letter, and then writes as 

 follows : 



These modes of proceeding may be consentaneous with the wisdom of this world, 

 but ill accords with that wisdom, who hath said — My kingdom is not of this 7vorld — 

 Yc are not of the world, etc. To the account the Dr. (White) gives of Bishop Sea- 

 bury's failure (as he is pleased to call it) I shall only say thus much. That the case 

 of the Church in all the States, or in any individual one at present, is perfectly as a 

 single diocese without a centre of unity, the presbyters of which have an unquestion- 

 able right to nominate a bishop, without the interference of any diocese having a 

 bishop or not having one. Bishop Seabury's failure then, on ecclesiastical principles, 

 is not owing to his being sent by presbyters acting in their private capacity — Certificates 

 from the ruling powers is without a precedent in any Christian Church in the universe. 

 This is fi.xing the Church under the power of the State for ever and ever with a wit- 

 ness. It is making Jesus Christ make obeisance to Caesar ! ! ! Reigning, powers grant- 

 ing certificales ! Tell it not in Gath ! publish it not to the world lest we publish our 

 own infamy. The Church in America to derive her power, nay her existence from 

 temporal auth ..\:y — perish the idea! Her charter from the hands of the eternal runs 

 thus: ^'■As my Father hath sent me, etc." "All power is given to me in Heaveit." Let 

 us render unto Caesar, etc. The Church and the State are by God constituted separate, 

 and let no man join what he hath separated. The sword of the Cherubim and Ccesar's 

 are of different metals, the one pointing to the victim which should prevent the effu- 

 sion of human blood by his own, the other occasioning multitudes of garments rolled 

 in blood and the infinite number of the slain. " May the Church rest always on its 

 own true foundation Jesus Christ, and the throne of Empire on its proper basis — Mercy. 

 Adieu. May God direct you and those who sit in Moses' seat, etc." 



to put upon him. His plan acknowledged the necessity of Episcopal ordination in 

 every case where it could be obtained; but until it could be, proposed to follow its form, 

 awaiting the consummation of the substance. Dr. Smith, it is certain, held to the same 

 ideas that Dr. White did on the subject of ordination. See my former volume, page 

 402. And it is equally certain that those views can be justified by some of the most 

 autlioritalive writers uf the Church of England. See Appendix, No. IV. — II. W. S. 



