Publisher's Synopsis
From the PREFACE.
These pages are not designed to attempt a new exposition of the Sacred Mysteries, but to vindicate from recent misconceptions the old Catholic Doctrine of the Memorial Sacrifice, and Real Participation, of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. The authorities adduced, in exposition of Holy Scripture. are the Councils, Liturgies, and Fathers before the division of East and West, together with the Liturgy and standard Divines of the Church of England.
The same authorities have been lately claimed for conclusions to which they are, in truth, strongly opposed. The old Catholic phraseology is unhappily being more and more limited to the Tridentine interpretation. The Real Presence, which Bishop Cosin affirms and proves to be common to all Protestant Confessions, is now sought to be restrained to the Church of Rome, and one section of the Anglican Communion. The Eucharistic Sacrifice, taught by all our great theologians, is to a large extent confounded with the Sacrifice of the Mass. It is a natural though startling sequel, that one of these miscalled High Churchmen at last reaches the conclusion, that England and Rome are absolutely at one by the very doctrine which historically formed the chief ground of their separation!
These reactionary paradoxes are aided rather than restrained by indiscriminate opposition. The churchmanship of our day happily revolts from all that goes to lower or rationalize the Christian mysteries. In view of the secular tendencies of the age, it clings the more fervently to the Catholic tradition, which may soon be our only bond of union, when temporal Establishments shall have ceased to exist. The present Essay is an appeal to Catholic tradition; to Church authority against private judgment; to the simplicity of the universal Faith against an overbearing Scholasticism, which, in seeking to localize the spiritual, darkens what it affects to define, and desecrates the ark it presumes to uphold.
It is the diversity of Doctrine which creates, and gives importance to our Ritual diversities; these can never be satisfactorily adjusted while the standards of teaching are misunderstood.
I have long hoped to see the task of restoring the balance undertaken by some more competent writer; but perhaps an imperfect attempt may be less dangerous, than a delay which has already been too long for the peace of the Church....
