A

SERMON,

PREACHED AT THE

CONSECRATION OF ST. THOMAS'S CHURCH,

QUILON,

ON THE FESTIVAL OF ST. THOMAS, 1840,

AND PUBLISHED AT THE REQUEST OF THE REV. THE CLERGY

OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND,

STATIONED IN THE PROVINCE OF TRAVANCORE.

"And to the intent ye may understand further why Churches were built among Christian people, this was the greatest consideration, that God might have his place, and that God might have his times, duly to be honoured and served of the whole multitude in the parish: First, there to hear and learn the blessed word and will of the Everlasting God: Secondly, that there the blessed Sacraments, which our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ hath ordained and appointed, should be duly, reverently, and decently ministered: Thirdly, that there the whole multitude of God's people in the parish should with one voice and heart call upon the name of God, magnify and praise the name of God, render earnest and hearty thanks to our Heavenly Father for the heap of benefits daily and plentifully poured upon us, not forgetting to bestow our alms upon God's poor, to the intent God may bless us the more richly. Thus you may well perceive and understand wherefore Churches were built and set up amongst Christian people, and dedicated and appointed to these godly uses, and wholly exempted from all filthy, profane, and worldly uses.

"And shall we be so mindful of our common base houses, deputed to so vile employment, and be forgetful towards the house of God; wherein be treated the words of our eternal salvation, wherein be ministered the Sacraments and Mysteries of our Redemption? The fountain of our Regeneration is there presented unto us: the partaking of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ is there offered unto us: and shall we not esteem the place where so heavenly things are handled ?" Sermon for Repairing of Churches :Book of Homilies.

-

TO THE

RIGHT REVEREND

THE

LORD BISHOP OF MADRAS.

MY LORD,

In returning to your Lordship the sermon which you preached on the occasion of consecrating the Church at Quilon, we beg to convey to your Lordship our sincere obligations for your kind consideration in sending it for the perusal of such of us as had not the privilege of being present when your Lordship preached it.

Feeling persuaded that through the blessing of God the above sermon is calculated to do much good, and to leave an abiding impression on the minds of those who heard your Lordship preach it, we unite in earnestly requesting

that your Lordship will kindly allow it to be printed.

In hopes that your Lordship will be pleased

to comply with our request,

We have the honour to be

Your Lordship's

most obedient and humble servants,

BENJAMIN BAILEY,

HENRY BAKer,

JOSEPH PEET,

JOHN CHAPMAN,

JOHN HAWKSWORTH,

JOHN JOHNSON.

Cottayam.-Dec. 29, 1840.