A Sermon Preached . December 23, 1860, at the Primary Ordination of . the Lord Bishop of Carlisle

A Sermon Preached. December 23, 1860, At The Primary Ordination Of. The Lord Bishop Of Carlisle — William Whitmarsh Phelps. This sermon, delivered in Carlisle Cathedral by the Rev. W. W. Phelps, MA, then Incumbent of Trinity Church, Reading, addresses the duties of clergy and the essentials of church government. Phelps argues for the historic episcopate—Bishops, Priests, and Deacons—as established by the Apostles, and for faithful doctrine, cautioning against hypocrisy, worldliness, and useless controversy. He outlines personal duties, including integrity of preaching, holy living, and prudent recreation, and then turns to the danger of lax doctrine, the necessity of original sin, justification by faith alone, and the conversion through the Holy Spirit. The sermon emphasizes that the minister's office is to proclaim the gospel clearly and compassionately, to shepherd the flock, and to teach the whole counsel of God. It concludes with exhortations to maintain steadfastness, endure opposition, and pursue a life of Gospel integrity in service to Christ.