Transcribed from the 1855 Charles Westerton edition by DavidPrice,
A QUESTION FOR THEPARISHIONERS.
BY
A LAYMAN.
“You call me a Tractarian, I am not so inany sense.”—See the Letter of Dr. Irons to theEditor of the Record.
“He that is first in his own cause seemeth just, but hisneighbour cometh and searcheth him”.—Proverbs18 chap. 17 verse.
LONDON:
CHARLES WESTERTON,
WESTERTON’S LIBRARY,
20, ST. GEORGE’S PLACE, HYDE PARKCORNER;
SEELEY’S, FLEET STREET.
1855.
Price Sixpence.
p. iiIf any profits arise from the saleof this little publication, they will be given to thefunds of the Chelsea, Brompton, and BelgraveDispensary.
In placing before my fellowparishioners this publication, I think it necessary mostdistinctly to disavow any personal hostility to the Vicar, as anindividual.
I feel it the more incumbent on me to say this, as my objectis not so much to prove the errors and unscriptural teaching ofthe “Tractarians,” as to make it plain (by his ownwords and actions) that Dr. Irons must be considered asaltogether identified with the “Tractarian”party.
On a fitting occasion, however, I shall be ready (the Lordenabling me) to shew, that the principles and practices of thoseclergymen who have unhappily embraced “Tractarian”error, are as contrary to God’s blessed Word as they are tothe Articles of our Church; and that these principles (ifhonestly carried out) as necessarily lead to Rome, as a humbleand prayerful study of the Bible, will assuredly lead the sincereenquirer into the light and liberty of Gospel truth.
It is the policy of the more wily amongst the“Tractarians” to keep aloof in some measure from the“Ultras” of their party, and to follow the Jesuiticaladvice given from a certain quarter, not to be over hasty inbringing in Anglican forms and observances amongst theircongregations, but to win them over by little and little.
This policy will account for much that is going on in ourparish, where we have a Vicar who says that he is not aTractarian “in any sense.”
I feel assured that the parishioners of Brompton are notprepared for that open and undisguised“Tractarianism” practised in some of our churches;but when I bear in mind the fact, that during the past year twoor three of the most noted amongst the “Tractarian”Clergy have been preaching in the Parish Church, it shews thenecessity of being on our guard to resist the insidious attemptsp. ivmade fromwithin, as well as the endeavours now making from without, tobring us into the bondage of “Tractarianism,” or intothe more open and unadulterated principles and practices ofRomanism. It may be well for us to remember that at therecent opening of the Popish Institution (the Oratory) in ourParish, there were reported as being present twelve Romishpriests or laymen, who until the last few years were clergymen ofthe Established Church, and belonging to the“Tractarian” party.
In making use of the word “Tractarian” a necessi