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THE CHURCH

AND

HER DESTINIES.

BY

JAMES BIDEN.

LONDON:

AYLOTT & CO., 8, PATERNOSTER ROW;
OLIVER & BOYD, EDINBURGH.

MDCCCLV.

101.1.87.

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ADDRESS.

WHEN the Church of England was stirred greatly by the writings of the Tractarians, the members of that section of her clergy who have been desirous to bring back again the people under the sway, and to be subject to the discipline, of a dominant clergy, I was led to believe that the holy city described by St. John to be not intended, as represented by divines, to present a condition of hereafter spiritual life, but stood as a figure for spiritual life in union with Christ on earth. I was confirmed in this belief by a careful examination of Scripture. The knowledge of this truth led me to desire its promulgation. My pursuits had not been literary, and I did not think myself fitted to advocate it. I was, however, encouraged to enter upon the labour, and found, as I proceeded, special help to declare this momentous truth.

The acquisition of one great fundamental truth necessarily leads on to the obtaining correlative truths. The consequences have been, the past of Christianity, from soon after its first promulgation, is

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