SERMON

NOTE that this sermon was given to those to be ordained into the Church of England on the 13th January 1856. It reflects the times in which it was given and the opinions of a small group in that period.

It was only in 1850 that the Roman Catholic church re-established its ecclesiastical hierarchy in England (cardinals, bishops etc).

This Sermon was just 42 months after anti-Catholic rioting in nearby Stockport following a proclamation from Lord Derby against Roman catholic processions and costumes.

The presentation of this text here, for historical purposes, does not imply agreement with any statement herein. Some of the views expressed are quite contentious and few would express them today.

Author: Rev E D Jackson, rector of St Thomas, Heaton Norris.
Privately published by the author.
Audience: Candidates admitted to Priests' Orders, 1856
SERMON.
EPHESIANS, II. 20.
Built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the Chief Corner Stone.

We have to contend not only with an evil world still in arms against us, and to struggle with hearts as corrupt, as deceitful, as rebellious as ever, but we have especially to combat a spirit ever increasing, and surely not of heaven, - a spirit that draws no pleasure and catches no inspiration from the past, however holy and dignified, - a spirit that believes only in the truth and excellence of the present, to which antiquity is a childish dream, and authority an invention of priestcraft, -a spirit that has no admiration and no love for scenes, however consecrated by heaven-born events; for names, however connected with every thing that is pure and imperishable; for doctrines, however weighty and solemn; for precepts, however elevating and ennobling, and sanctifying.
"No, we live," the children of such a spirit cry, "in an age of progress; the day is for ever past when things were taken for granted on the faith of great names.
We refuse to admit anything except on its own basis of truth and propriety. We are willing to argue the matter with you, and if you are able to convince us of the correctness of your way of thinking, we will acknowledge ourselves at once believers in your creed."

Read the whole sermon in a pdf format.