We are here assembled, to devise, as the Lord shall give us wisdom, the most prudent and effectual means and measures of building up the Churches with which we are connected; of promoting the salvation of mankind, and of enlarging the kingdom of the blessed Redeemer. We are here assembled, to “banish and drive away from the Church all erroneous and strange doctrines, contrary to God’s Word;” to preserve and enforcea pure worship and godly discipline; and to diffuse, among all ranks of people, the knowledge of Christ, and the practice of true godliness.
Such should be the object, and such the result of our present deliberations. How great then should be our solicitude; how earnest and devout our prayers, that the Lord, by his Spirit, will be with us; that he will “save us from all error, ignorance, pride, and prejudice;” that “of his great mercy he will vouchsafe so to direct, sanctify, and govern us in our present work, by the mighty power of the Holy Ghost, that (through our faithful exertions) the comfortable Gospel of Christ may be truly preached, truly received, and truly followed;” that we may have wisdom to devise, and zeal to pursue whatever will tend to the promotion of true religion; that we may “stand fast in one Spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel.” Let no selfish, interested motives, or worldly considerations affect our judgments, or divert our views from that work of our Divine Master, now committed to our care. With souls united, and with hearts raised to God, let us most deliberately proceed to the business of this Convention, each member, according to his station and office, attentively considering what the Spirit saith.
You can read it all here.
Of course, that's not yesterday's speech by Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold, it's from the speech of Presiding Bishop Alexander V. Griswold to the General Convention in 1817.
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