Preface

AT length I am able to fulfil my promise to publish the five Addresses on "The Glorious Church," delivered by the Rev. Father Ignatius, at the afternoon services of the Mission, at Westminster, in the spring of 1887.

When I issued the circular, during the last Westminster Mission, announcing the early publication of these Addresses, I had every reason to believe that a month or two would suffice to see the volume in the hands of its many expectant readers; but unfortunately a series of unlooked-for causes of delay supervened, which made it impossible for me to complete my "labour of love" until now. I desire, in these few prefatory lines, to express my regret, and to apologize for the delay, and especially to those who applied for copies of the book before publication, and who, in some instances, sent remittances to the publishers.

Besides the amount of careful preparation and revision which these extemporary Addresses have required, I have again made a point of obtaining the important advantage of their further revision by the Rev. Father himself; and I feel sure that those whose patience may have been the most tried by the delay, will agree with me that such revision more than compensates for the tardy completion of the book.

At the time of the delivery of these Addresses, Father Ignatius, it will be remembered by many, was in a very feeble state of health, and especially was this the case when he gave us the concluding Address on "The Incense and Vestments" of "The Glorious Church." When this address was put into type, its contrast with the others was so marked that the Rev. Father very kindly wrote another in its place--the result being the beautiful concluding address now published.

I am glad to have been able, in accordance with my promise, to furnish, as our frontispiece, a picture of the Altar and Reredos of Llanthony Abbey Church.

In issuing these Addresses on "The Glorious Church," which, be it remembered, were exclusively addressed to "Christians," it is hoped that the manifest design and object of the Rev. Father, in their delivery, will be clearly recognized and understood by those into whose hands the book may fall--Catholics and Protestants alike.

The titles of the Addresses may perhaps cause some of our Protestant brethren to take alarm; but to such I would say: stifle your prejudice, read the book, and see what, in every line, "The Glorious Church," "Her Altar and Host," "Her Crucifix and Candles," "Her Sanctuary Lamp," "Her Incense and Vestments," are shewn to be--Jesus, and "Jesus only."

This is the key-note of each address.

A staunch upholder of the doctrines and traditions of the Anglican--or as he is so fond of calling it--"the old British" branch of the Catholic and Apostolic Church, and therefore believing in, and realizing, the pricelessness of Her Christ-appointed Sacraments, Father Ignatius is never tired of reminding all who come within the range of his preaching, that "Eternal Life is the Gift of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord; "and that apart from a personal faith in Jesus, no Church or Sacrament can bestow this Gift on the sinner; but that the true believer is stablished, strengthened, settled in Christ and feeds on Christ in the Divinely-appointed Mysteries and Sacraments of the Gospel.

Loud and distinct notes of warning will be found in these Addresses, to the mere professors of religion, who may be outwardly members of the Visible Church, but who do not belong to Her Spirit; and in these days, there is surely a deep need of the simple Gospel teaching on this subject--a more direct application of the Saviour's Mediatorial All-Sufficiency and Finished Work.

Convinced of this necessity, it is not to be wondered at that the golden gift of eloquence, with which the Rev. Father Ignatius is so richly endowed, should be thus concentrated.

With an earnest prayer that the publication of this volume may be greatly blessed to very many--to those who already are members of "The Glorious Church," and to those who are not yet, that they may be brought (whilst reading its pages) into Her Fold--I leave the little book, and its great and solemn objects, in the Hands of Him for Whose Truth and Glory it is issued.

J. V. SMEDLEY.
Oxford and Cambridge Club, Pall Mall, S.W.,
February 24th, 1889.

As' in the case of the volume of "Mission Sermons and Orations," I was intending, when my health broke down in 1889, to publish a second Edition of these Addresses on "The Glorious Church," as, happily, the first Edition was then practically exhausted. Other circumstances subsequently occasioned further delay; but now, through the instrumentality of my friend, Mr. Reginald Berkeley, a second Edition is issued.

Nor was I surprised to find the demand so great for this precious little book, in spite of the possibility of some of one's fellow Churchmen who are prone to protest against calling Scriptural things by their right names, being frightened by the titles of the Addresses.

With great thankfulness I have absolute knowledge that these Addresses--as full of rebuke to the mere formalist as of comfort to the worshipper "in spirit and in truth"--have, by God's goodness, been greatly blessed to the souls of very many of their readers--to quite as many Protestants as Catholics; and I can only humbly hope and pray that this further Edition of the little volume may be equally blessed to a largely extended circle of readers, not only in our own land, but also among our trans-Atlantic brethren and fellow-Christians in the United States and Canada, who for a twelvemonth have had our earnest and eloquent friend, Father Ignatius, among them.

J. V. SMEDLEY.
Oxford and Cambridge Club, Pall Mall, S.W.,
September, 1891.

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