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welcome invitation to some, and the unde- | passeth away. While we are thankful for sired summoning-officer to others, Death, the accommodations and conveniences which as it were, will say to your soul and mine, God bestows upon us and upon our city and "Behold, the King cometh: go ye out to country, let us not, as professed Christians, meet him." Then the unembodied spirit of merge all our thoughts and cares and profits the real Christian will depart to the state of and pleasures in evanescent and perishing other human spirits, separated for a season things. We are born for eternity: may our from their bodies, to be ever happy with the highest pleasure be in a due preparation for Lord; and the souls of the ungodly and it; so that, when we leave those worldly obirreligious will go to their own place, to jects that may, in their season, have justly mingle with their own society. How long excited our delight, our spirits may join the our mortal bodies will remain in their tombs blessed assembly where all is wonder, love, no one knows; but the day will come, the and praise. punctual moment will arrive, when all that are in their graves shall hear the voice of the archangel and the trump of God, and shall come forth. Then " every eye shall see him." Then will be gathered together, not only the inhabitants of one city, or one country, but all kindreds and peoples; and they will be marshalled and arranged, on the right hand and on the left, as every man's loyalty or rebellion has been; to the joy of all his beloved and faithful subjects, and to the confusion of all who, by their disobedience to his gospel, shewed that "they would not have him to reign over them."

Time is the consumer of all things, and a season will come when, either by a gradual mouldering or some terrific catastrophe, the massy and elegant structures, which we now so justly admire, will be ruinated. This has twice happened to two former Exchanges. Where are Tyre and Sidon and Carthage and Babylon and Nineveh? The very extensive sites on which they stood cannot, with complete accuracy, be ascertained. Who built, and when were built, and when were they destroyed, those towers and temples and palaces in far distant deserts? For they are only known to have ever existed by Many have earnestly solicited and gladly the very few, though most magnificent, fragreceived invitations to the splendid banquet ments of them that remain. A time will that is provided; and they would be glad to come when all mercantile accounts will close, eat and drink, if possible, in the presence of and merchandizes and exchanges will be no the queen and her nobles on the morrow. more; and then the merchant and the artizan This is now all their desire and all their hap- and the noble and the peasant, the oppressor piness, though the accomplishment, if it can and the oppressed, will each be required to be, will occasion some cost and inconvenience. give an account of himself to him who But, O, how few of these very persons, on made the earth, and provided the fulness other occasions, give the least heed to the thereof. "The day of the Lord will come free and affectionate invitations of their mi- as a thief in the night; in the which the heanisters, the ambassadors of Christ, which vens shall pass away with a great noise, and are given from month to month, to all that the elements shall melt with fervent heat: the are religiously and devoutly disposed, to par- earth also, and the works that are therein take of a feast" ordained by Christ himself, shall be burned up. Seeing then, that all for the continual remembrance of the sacri- these things shall be dissolved, what manner fice of his death, and of the benefits which of persons ought ye to be in all holy converwe receive thereby!" Our blessed Lord him-sation and godliness, looking for and hasting self has thus commanded all who desire and hope to be interested in his death: "Do this in remembrance of me." How does it shew the corruption of man's nature that his tastes and propensities should run so eagerly on carnal and transient enjoyments, and to the total neglect of spiritual and heavenly and abiding benefits! O, this is a circumstance deplored by all that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. And, my dear brethren, these things ought not so to be with any of us.

He builds his hopes and enjoyments too low who builds them on perishing materials. To be truly happy, we need to make the things that are eternal the paramount objects of our delight; for the fashion of this world

to the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless," at his appear ing, and in his kingdom (2 Pet. iii. 10-14).

Think prospectively, my dear brethren, of the holy and heavenly triumph, which will be closely connected with the world's dissolution, and of which we shall, every one, be most deeply interested spectators. It is thus prophesied of by our Saviour himself: "The Son of man shall come in the glory of his

Father, with all his holy angels; and then shall he sit on the throne of his glory; and before him shall be gathered all nations" (Matt. xxv.31, 32). Then will holy Job's prediction come to pass: "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that in my flesh I shall see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold him." And we may say to every real, right-hearted Christian, the loyal subject of the King of kings, "Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty." You will see him, and nigh: you will behold him, and not afar off; you will see him in the very beauty of holiness, in the lustre in which he appears on his throne of glory: you will eat and drink of heavenly viands in his more immediate presence, and be associated with king David and Solomon and Hezekiah and Josiah, and all that have departed this life in God's faith and fear. You will see him as he is, and, in your measure, be made like him. You will see him without inconvenience or fatigue or danger, see him to your everlasting joy. Blessed are they that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. Then will be fully answered the intercessory prayer, which the King of the Jews offered for his universal church: "Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, the glory that I had with thee before the foundation

of the world."

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, be honour and glory and might and majesty and dominion and power, for ever and ever. Amen.

ONE CHRISTMAS DAY.

to be

and I would dwell upon the thought. What are
Health and wealth and
the gifts of God?
earthly friends-these, in general, are
spoken of as only lent, to be recalled when he
pleases; but what are his gifts? In one word,
his only Son. An old writer has observed, "God
gives us nothing to have and to hold but his
Christ." True; but in him, and with him, he
"God hath given to
gives us also eternal life.
us eternal life; and this life is in his Son." He
gives us faith to believe in him, and grace to serve
him. And our Christian friends, what shall we
say of them? Are they given, or only lent?
Only lent, as it concerns this world: here to-day,
and, it may be, gone to-morrow; but gifts, as it
concerns eternity. Are they and we the purchase
of one blood, the partakers of one grace, the heirs
of one glory? Then are these blessings lent to us
in time, but given to us for eternity.

"One family, we dwell in him;

One church, above, beneath;
Though now divided by the stream,
The narrow stream of death.

"One army of the living God,

To his commands we bow:

Part of the host have crossed the flood,
And part are crossing now."

On this Christmas-day the ground was white with snow; but the snow, having been on the ground ten days, was now in many parts trodden

in.

In one field much snow remained; and, where the snow was worn away, every blade of grass was covered with frost. The frozen snow provided a good firm footing; and we walked on, The admiring the beauties of the wintry scene. and beautiful blue; and, as the eye rested on the sun shone brightly, and the sky was of a calm fir-trees at a distance, we might have fancied we were far away northward.

"The hoar frost was chill Upon moorland and hill, And was fringing the forest-bough." We were on our way to a little country church. I cannot cheer you with an account of a crowded congregation. How it might be in general I do not know; for I was but a stranger-guest. A few weeks since, the incumbent had died; and it might be that the congregation were unsettled and scattered, till another should regularly minister among them as his own people.

It was many a Christmas-day since we had been together; for our homes were now far apart. We had met in sorrow and in joy. We had seen the earliest daffodil and the earliest blue hyacinth together; and marked when the tender foliage of Some texts were inscribed on the walls. In the lofty lime-trees looked like soft moss on the one part of the church the eye rested on the inviroofs of the houses behind them. We had seen tation, "O, worship the Lord in the beauty of hothe red hawthorn drop on the ground its shell-liness:" on another tablet was inscribed the text, like petals; and we had enjoyed together the "God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must fruits and flowers of the glowing summer. Au- worship him in spirit and in truth." The large tumn, too, had seen us together: when the beau-heavy font, placed appropriately at the entrance tiful garlands of the hops were to be gathered in, and when the corn called for the sickle, and when the juicy mulberries were ripe, we had been together. At last we met, in winter; and we both felt that it was a sunshiny day that saw us meet; and great was the pleasure to spend Christmas together, though the days of childhood and of youth pressed upon the remembrance-the Christmas fare and the holly-bough of long-past years; and the smiles, O the smiles of those whom the grave hath hidden for ever from our view. "For ever," did I say? Yes, for ever in this world; but the "for ever" of this world, how short! It is said

66 Thy gifts my days with gladness crown;"

of the church, bore the date 1591; and the whole edifice appeared ancient. A screen carved with Gothic work separated the chancel from the body of the church. I loved to look on the evergreens which at this season "beautified the house of God's sanctuary." The sun shone powerfully through the windows, and produced an effect like that of leaf-gold on the laurels just before me.

I said we were but a small company: I was glad we were not still fewer in number. A youth who was with us had much desired on that day to pay a visit to the Roman catholic chapel near at hand, and had left home with the intention of separating from us when we entered our church, and going on alone a little further; but, though

I would not have him disappointed in anything that could do him good or give him innocent pleasure, I could not but rejoice when I heard him say, "He found there would be no service at the chapel;" and so he turned in with us, where his father ministered and his mother knelt among the worshippers.

My fellow protestants, shrink not from your name, even though you may be called ultra-protestants. What! can we protest too strongly, too frequently, against the reposing in outward forms, against the worshipping of our fellow-beings? "We know whom we worship;" and on this Christmasday we worshipped not the virgin-mother, but the Son of that blessed virgin.

"O most mighty, O most holy,

Far above the seraph's thought!
Art thou, then, so meek and lowly
As unheeded prophets taught?

"O, the magnitude of meekness,

Worth from worth immortal sprung!
O, the strength of infant weakness,
If eternal is so young!"

There was no sermon, it being the custom in this neighbourhood to omit the sermon at the times when the Lord's supper is administered. It was a blessed and holy season: we drew near in faith, and took that holy sacrament to our com

fort.

In the afternoon we had another church to visit, and hymns to join in; beautiful hymnsbut I will give only one verse:

"O, for this love, let rocks and hills
Their lasting silence break;
And all harmonious human tongues
Their joyful praises speak."

"This love!" the love that led the Redeemer to lay aside his glory. The more we think of it, the more wonderful does this love appear. The very simplicity of the theme is its glory. We read the simple tale, the story of one born in a stable, wrapped in swaddling-clothes, lying in a manger; but who, O, who is this? Revelation alone can answer: "To us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

What shall I say of the sermon? The very text, my reader, is it true if we address the words to you? "Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be made rich." Do you, indeed, know this grace? St. Paul tells his Corinthian converts that they knew it. Do we know it? He who knows most of it, while on earth, confesses that he knows but very little; yet he who knows but little of this love knows what the Holy Spirit alone can teach him. "Ye know the grace." Yes, there is not a Christian upon earth but knows something of this grace; and he who begins to know shall go on to know more, yet still confessing that he knows what passeth knowledge.

Another scene of that Christmas-day took place in a city charity-school. Sometimes it is diffi

cult, even in a wealthy neighbourhood, to procure exactly the place that might be preferred in which to hold a charity-school. It is pleasant, indeed, to see a nice room devoted exclusively to the purpose, with a pretty outlet or garden, such

as I have seen where the smooth grass-plat and the narrow border of flowers enforced the lesson of neatness taught within the walls of the school. The room to which we adjourned when the church service was ended was the best that could be obtained here. From a narrow lane we entered a door leading to a steep flight of stairs: this led us to a large room filled with furniture of various descriptions: another flight of steps to ascend, and then pass through a room leading to the school-room. I think the children loved the appearance of danger when they felt there was not the reality; for I observed that always, in this passage-room, it was their delight to tread as heavily as they could on a trap-door which shook beneath their feet, and showed through wide cracks the room below. But we are, at last, in the school-room, nicely warmed with a stove, teachers and children all looking pleased and happy. How delightful it was to see so many teachers engaged in the good work; ladies in the bloom of youth giving their time and energies to But they seek not praise, this blessed work! and I give it not to them, but to that grace which has, I trust, taught them their need of a Saviour, and taught them to feel for others. And O, if a word of encouragement would be welcome from one who, though a stranger, was permitted, now and then, to be a fellow-teacher in that school, she would say, "Be not weary in well-doing; for in due season you shall reap if you faint not.' Be content to say the same things, to propose the same questions many times. Remember how patiently your divine teacher has borne with you; and, dear friends, ask for more and more of the influences of the Holy Spirit. You need great things; therefore, ask great things for yourselves and for the poor children.

On this occasion many visitors, and the minister of the parish, and his beloved family, were present. Of that dear lady to whom all eyes turned as to "the foundress of the feast" I will say but little. This much I will say: she has a kind word and a kind smile for rich and poor, for young and old: she is a help meet for him whom God hath called here to the ministry of the everlasting gospel. Often has she brought to my mind the command she so well obeys: "See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently."

Now all the children are arranged in order, and ready, just before they receive their Christmas cake, to sing their Christmas hymn, a simple, easy one. How soon they have learnt it, and how lively and appropriate is the tune! must commend their singing, though, indeed, they have every advantage, when we consider who teaches, and who leads the singing.

"Little children, can you say

Why you're glad on Christmas-day? Little children, can you tell Why you hear the sweet church-bell? Can you tell me who was born Early on the Christmas morn? "Now you will at once reply,

We are glad, and we know why: "Tis a joyful day on earth, Joyful for our Saviour's birth: Angels came from heaven to say, Christ was born on Christmas-day. "Tis the birth-day of our King; We our little offerings bring. 'Tis our pleasant holiday; Therefore we are glad and gay, Sing and pray and hear his word, Keep the birth-day of our Lord."

We

"Children-think before you speak-
When you come your Lord to seek,
Have you any gold to throw
At his feet who loved you so?
Have you frankincense and myrrh?
Sweetest spice, you know, they were.
"Children, you have rought, you say,

At your Saviour's feet to lay.
Ask him, then, your souls to take,
And to save for his name's sake.
Jesus, Saviour, take each heart:
Make it holy as thou art."

IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIAN CONCORD*.

governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life." Such a desire and such an endeavour breathe no unchristian spirit, assume no undue exaltation, exhibit no haughty demeanour, pronounce no unholy anathemas, employ no carnal weapons. There is a steady, calm, unflinching, consistent, peaceful course, looking neither to the right nor to the left, but manfully and indefatigably advancing, cultivating and cherishing union within, striving to remove prejudices, excite confidence, and awaken attachment; "in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left."

Is this the door which is set open before us? Then how precious does our beloved church appear! How eager do we feel to adorn her doctrines, treasure her liturgy, guard her sanctuaries, protect her children, regain her deserters, rivet her wanderers, silence if not convert her enemies! God forbid that her pillars should be shaken through the treachery of professing friends. God forbid that her foundations should be weakened through the subtlety of uniting foes. With what burning zeal and holy ardour must we seek to further all her bright and brilliant schemes for purifying the people, exalting the nation, enlightening the world! If constant to the church we love, if true to the Master we serve, if faithful to the God we trust, if clothed with his armour and strengthened by his power, we need fear no opposition, waver before no difficulties, stagger at no obstacles, care for no revilings, tremble before no enemy. Our zeal may be questioned, our motives maligned, our intentions purposely misunderstood, and our actions basely misrepresented; but we know and feel that we are steadily pur"suing our course as in the presence of him "to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid:" we hope, yea, believe, that "he that is holy, he that is true, he that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth, hath set before us an open door, and no man can shut it;" therefore are we supported in trouble, guided through difficulty, soothed in sorrow, and confirmed in well-doing.

THERE is nothing more melancholy and dispiriting than to see the divisions and confusion which prevail amongst professing Christians. The progress of Christianity is hereby lamentably impeded, both at home and abroad. It is distressing to think that the children of this vain world should continually prove themselves "wiser in their generation than the children of light." When a carnal warfare is waged, are not discipline and union observed; past experience having shown that division produces weakness, disorder, defeat? Ah, how painful, how heart-rending, that in the spiritual warfare all such wisdom is forgotten, all such experience despised, that "Manasseh should persist in opposing Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh, and they unite against Judah!" It must, therefore, be the hearty wish of every good man that such fatal disorder should be removed; and that the strongholds of sin and dominions of Satan should be vigorously attacked by the united disciplined hosts of the people of God, and not by small detachments and scattered forces, which are too often apt to waste their strength, exhaust their zeal, and expend their resources, in angry disputes and unbecoming contentions. Do we not, then, again see where a door appears set open before us, to establish concord and promote union? May we not, at least, be allowed quietly and unobtrusively to aim at such a glorious consummation, though it appears so unpromising and hopeless? "We walk by faith," remember, "not by sight." At all events, be it far from us to impede its progress by internal discord and division; because, if not united within, we can hardly be surprised that others should be divided without; and it would be presumption, madness, to have union on our banners, with division in our ranks-concord for our precept, but discord for our practice. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another," says our blessed Lord. And again: "Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are :" Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." Seeking to obey the injunctions and walk in the footsteps of the Author and Finisher of our faith, how beautifully, how fervently, does the church, in her incomparable liturgy, teach us to pray for and aim at this heavenly concord and union! "More especially, we pray for the good estate of the catholic church, that it may be so guided and

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From a Sermon, preached at the Visitation of the Archdeacon of Cleveland, July 5, 1844, by the rev. G. J. Morehead, rector of Easington-cum-Liverton.

The Cabinet.

"YE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD" (MATT. v. 14). Such are the words of our blessed Lord, who yet in many passages of holy writ declares himself to be that light. Thus (in John viii. 12), he says: "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Again, in chap. xii. of the same evangelist, be says, alluding to his approaching departure: "Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you; for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth :" "While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light :" "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on

CHURCH OF ENGLAND MAGAZINE.

me should not abide in darkness." In these and other instances we find it asserted that Christ is the Light of the world; and yet in the verse before us Christ saith distinctly that his disciples-his weak, erring, though sincere disciples-occupy that exalted position. Thus must we explain this seeming contradiction: so long as the Lord of Glory remained on earth, he was necessarily "the Light of the world;" but, when he ascended to be the Light of heaven, even as the mantle of Elijah fell upon Elisha, even so the Spirit of the Lord was breathed on his disciples. (John xx. 22).

"Christ, our light and life divine,

Ere he ceased on earth to shine,
Breathed on his disciples dear:
Hence a light to all they are."

Moreover, "when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place : and suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind." It was the Comforter, who descended on the apostles in the form of tongues of fire, whereby their bodies became the temples of the living God, and themselves the appointed instruments of spreading light throughout this world. Light is, indeed, a glorious thing-the ruler of all, both in heaven and earth. In vain would fall the rain and the dew if the sun did not shine upon their labour: the tender seedling would rot and die, bringing no fruit to perfection. So, in spiritual matters, though Paul sow and Apollos water, unless God-who is light, and in whom is no darkness-unless God bless "Ye are the light the work, no increase followeth. of the world." Truly hath the Lord God said, "They that honour me, I will honour" (1 Sam. ii. 30). When thus he hath appointed those who love him among mankind to be the light of this world, even as he is the Light of the world to come, yet doth it give no room for pride, but rather for deep humility, when we consider how faint our light is; nay, is it not to be feared that with some who did run well light hath become darkness? and, O, if our light be darkness, how great is that darkness! "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." The ministers of Christ are in a more especial manner thus set on a hill, and unto them do men look. O, may God enlighten them, and cause them to fulfil their trust faithfully; for, if the shepherd be not faithful, then will the flock be scattered; and, "if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." Let us then recall the exhortation of the apostle : "What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" (2 Peter iii. 11); and let us rejoice with trembling, rejoice in that it is permitted to man to light his brother; tremble lest that privilege be not accorded to us, or lest, after having preached to others, we ourselves should be "Ye are the light of the world," and cast away. 66 ye are the temple" of that God who is himself the temple of the new Jerusalem, the eternal city: as the beloved apostle says, when making known his vision: "And I saw no temple therein; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof" (Rev. xxi. 22, 23).

Lord grant unto us to walk as children of light, so that the "day of our death may be our birth-day into life."-REFLector.

OFFICE OF SPONSORS.-Doubt not but that, if
undertaken in dependence on the Saviour's aid, the
office you hold is acceptable in his sight, that he
will enable you to discharge it faithfully, and at
length abundantly reward your work and labour of
love. The prayers of every true Christian in the
congregation would, we trust, ascend with yours for
a blessing from the gracious Saviour of infants upon
the ordinance of his own appointment, and, through
this, upon the object of your pious solicitude; and
Jesus heareth prayer. The Book of Common Prayer
very properly requires that baptism should be ad-
ministered in the presence of the congregation during
morning and evening service.—Rev. J. N. G. Army-

tage.
From a "Sermon on the Office and Duties of Sponsors,"
appended to his "Baptismal Regeneration Discussed." Seeley
and Burnside. 1843.

Poetry.

THE DEATH OF STEPHEN.
(Acts vii. 55-60).

FOR ST. STEPHEN'S DAY.
BY THE REV. J. S. BROAD, M.A.
(For the Church of England Magazine.)
"I SEE him in his glory there,
The Son of man at God's right hand:
I see my Saviour passing fair,

In radiance clad, in triumph stand."
'Twas thus the blessed Stephen spake,

Full of the Spirit of his God,
And strong in faith; for Jesus' sake
Prepared to tread the path he trod.
Undaunted by the frown of man,

Nor priest nor ruler makes him quail:
He hears unmoved their furious ban-
He looks above, and cannot fail.
A glow of heaven is on his cheek,

A light of heaven is in his eye:
Far more than words those tokens speak
The faithful martyr, meek to die.
Yet heed they not his angel mien

They cannot bear his looks so blest;
Fierce scowling on each brow is seen,

And bitter hatred fills each breast.
Away to death! they raise the cry:

Beneath a shower of stones he falls;
Yet, dying, lifts his voice on high,

And meekly on his Saviour calls.
"Receive my Spirit, gracious Lord!"
Sweetly those words his faith proclaim:
He seeks in Christ a rich reward,

He conquers in his Saviour's name.
What but the faith of Christ could bear

The sufferer through the pains of death?

"And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel."-ACTS vi. 15.

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