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from the university of Oxford, and the year following | man must be disposed, more heartily to admire the was presented, by the dean and chapter of Durham, to the curacy of Whitworth, a few miles distant from that city. In 1706 the bishop collated him to the rectory of Winston, and in 1709 to that of Houghton-leSpring, famous among other things as the seat of the labours of the apostolic Bernard Gilpin, and where he founded and endowed a school for the education of girls.

Sir George died at his house in Durham after a short illness, Jan. 15 1723-4, and was buried in that part of the cathedral called "Galilee," near the tomb of the venerable Bede. The author of this memoir recollects hearing from an old inhabitant of Houghton, the legend, that, whilst the coffin was lowered into the grave or vault, a bird flew upon it, and sang most sweetly, during the remainder of the service, which being closed, it immediately flew away, and that this was regarded by all as a token of God's favour towards his servant. The same person had often heard his grandmother talk of the boundless kindness and charity of Sir George, and how much he was beloved by his parishoners. He was succeeded in his stall by Martin Benson, afterwards bishop of Gloucester, and in the living of Houghton by Thomas Secker, afterwards archbishop of Canterbury, both of these great pieces of preferment being bestowed by bishop Talbot.

It would appear that the latter days of Sir George were not a little embittered by that most severe trial to a Christian father, the profligacy of a son; with whom he felt himself called upon to expostulate in strong, though still most affectionate, language. There is something very painful in the reflection that the children of pious parents not unfrequently cause their parents much sorrow; it is one of those evils to which, however, they must submit; they have watched with fond anxiety; they have laboured to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; they have been earnest in prayer; and yet when they have looked for grapes, wild grapes alone were to be found. Let not the Christian parents, however, despair-the child may be dead, but he may yet be alive again; the wanderer may be lost, he may yet be found. Prayer may do much, nay it may do everything.

Some of the letters of Sir George, with reference to this subject, breathe a beautiful spirit of chastened devotion, and what father of Christian principles, under such a calamity, would not feel intensely? “ I have fol lowed my son's corpse to 'the narrow house,'" said an aged father to the compiler of this narrative, "I thank God he never caused me a sigh, he is at rest and I shall soon be so, but he never caused me a tear." The old man was wrong, for the tears were fast flowing down his furrowed cheeks.

This memoir cannot better be concluded than in the language of his biographer: "The learning which this respectable scholar had acquired in his boyhood he improved at Oxford, above all, that which taught him to remember his Creator in the days of his youth. To an intimate acquaintance with the history of ancient times, he added a considerable knowledge of the men and manners of the age in which he lived. Having carefully explored the politics of several foreign nations, he returned home disposed, as every sensible and good

civil and ecclesiastical establishment of his own country. If there be any peculiar excellence (we may add) by which his volume of travels' is discriminated, it • is that awful sense of the superintendence of Provi dence which it everywhere displays. Regardless of the derision to which he might occasionally be subjected by his occasional reflections of this description, the author consoled himself with his resolution of writing as a Christian and a philosopher.'

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The Cabinet.

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SELF-KNOWLEDGE.-Think how shameful it is to get all knowledge, and not to know ourselves; and how miserable he is that encompasses all the world, and searches into all things, only neglects his own peace, or seeks it among the occasions of his trouble. Discharge thyself therefore with all speed from thy passions, of rashness and hasty thoughts, Learn thy duty; do it: know God and thyself, and the world: and when thou art once humble, prudent, thankful, and heavenly-minded, then thou wilt not be displeased at what God or men do; nothing will trouble thee; or if any thing do, it will be this, that thou doest these things no better. But this is the happiness of such a man's condition, that those who mourn shall be comforted, and it is a pleasure to be so aggrieved. No joys blessing so sweet as that which is mingled with tears here like those of an ingenuous sorrow. No cup of of true contrition for our ingratitude.-Bp. Patrick.

NEGLECT OF SPIRITUAL WARNINGS.-The Roman senators conspired against Julius Cæsar to kill him. The very next morning Artemidorus, Cæsar's

friend, delivers him a paper (desiring him to peruse it), wherein the whole plot was discovered; but Cæsar complimented his life away, being so taken up to return the salutations of such people as met him in the way, that he pocketed the paper among other petitions, as unconcerned therein; and so, going to the senate-house, was slain.-The world, the flesh, and the devil, have a design for the destruction of men: we, ministers, bring our people a letter (God's word), wherein all the conspiracy is revealed. "But who hath believed our report?" Most men are so busy about worldly delights, they are not at leisure to listen to us, or read the letter, but they, alas! run headlong to their own ruin and destruction.-From Fuller's Meditations.

Poetry.

ON THE OMNISCIENCE of God. (For the Church of England Magazine.) MISS ANNE BEALE. Great God Omniscient! Father ever nigh! What power hast thou !-'tis thine all-seeing eye Can pierce the universe, and instant scan The deeds, the looks, the thoughts, the hearts of man;

"Tis thou, Almighty God! at whose dread voice
The bad shall tremble, and the good rejoice;
When thy last trump shall sound-when flames shall
spread-

Thunders re-echo-graves give up their dead.
Think then, O man, upon thy God. 'Tis he-
God of the present, past, of all eternity—
Whose eye can pierce the abyss, to thee as deep,
As dark, and searchless, as death's long, last sleep;
Think 'tis thy final Judge who views thee now,
Whate'er thy deeds, O man. Then say, canst thou

Unshrinking bear that awful eye to be
Fixed, ever full, unchangeably on thee?

Seek not the depths of sylvan solitude,
Seek not the lonely cliffs so wild and rude,
Hide not thine head within the mountain lair;
Thither ye flee from man-but God is there.
If dense the night as the dull, silent tomb,
Seek not a covert from its starless gloom;
If, 'gainst your fellow-men your deeds be dark,
Plot in the density of night-but hark!
There is a voice upon the wind-beware!
"Tis God who speaks-the all-seeing eye is there.
Yet not alone the wicked he beholds,
"Tis for the righteous that their God unfolds
His purposes of mercy, and looks down
Benignly upon them-prepares the crown,
Crown of celestial glory for the brow
Of him who serves his Maker here below.

Search well the deep recesses of the heart,
If ye have sought to hide in secret part

A fault, a thought from God, oh! free the way,
And bring that thought from darkness into day;
For he, who fathoms with a glance the deep,
And views its smallest inmates as they sleep
Within their shells secure, can view the whole
Of secret, silent workings in the soul.

Oh! that for ever on our minds could be Stamped the great words-"Thy God beholdeth thee!"

That in the crowd, as in the silent hour,

We felt those words in all their awful power;
Then, if with wily art, the tempter came
To lead the soul to torment and to flame,
In hours of danger and in times of fear,
What wondrous safeguard were for ever near!
Or in the season when affliction's smart
Strains every fibre, pierces to the heart,
When we would mourn too heavily, as one
For whom had vanished life's last gleam of sun,
How sweet to think that, looking on our grief,
There was a Power could give our woes relief;-
That but a tear, a sigh, an inward prayer,
Asking aright for strength those woes to bear,
Is seen, is heard by that Omniscient One
Who makes the earth his footstool, heaven his throne.

Miscellaneous.

LEGEND OF THE ORIGIN OF THUGGEE.*—“ Mahan Kallee, the wife of Sceva, the goddess who stands upon the body of her husband, who holds a scimitar in her right hand, and a head just severed from its body in her left, whose hair is dishevelled, whose eyes are like balls of fire, who wears as a garland a necklace of skulls, and whose tongue thirsts for the blood of her victims, is the divinity whom we adore, and who is our protector in the discharge of our duties. In former times, a demon destroyed mankind as fast as they were created. The Devi took her scimitar, and in wrath beheaded the monster; but, from every drop of blood that fell to the ground, there grew up a demon as wicked and as destructive as Rukut Beej Dhana himself. Still, their increase only gave power to her arm and edge to her weapons; but her efforts were vain; the demons multiplied in proportion to the number whom she slew. Her skill was more ef

From "Tours in the Himalaya Mountains," by Major Lloyd and Captain Alexander Gerard. Two vols. Madden and Co. Contains much most interesting matter.

fectual than her power. She created two men, to whose hands she entrusted the sacred noose." * Now,' said she, 'strangle these demons for me, and allow not a drop of their blood to be shed.' As soon as they executed her orders she gave them the romala (a native turban), as a reward for their toil, with the permission to take the half of the race, and dispose of it for their own advantage, since through their efforts men were allowed to exist. Nay more, so long as they attended to her will and were guided by her counsels, all whom they would sacrifice were to be regarded as victims to propitiate her favour, while all the booty which might be realized would become their inheritance."

Such is the origin of Thuggee-a system more cruel more shocking, and more barbarous, because carried on under the mask of religion, and often under sanction of law. The Gooroo inducted the stranglers into their office; rites and ceremonies were performed to obtain direction in the sacred duties; it was only when the omens were favourable, the parties were permitted to act; many of the leaders and renowned men are talked of as the most pious, faithful, and devoted; the pickaxe was not only endowed with supernatural powers, but was consecrated to the service, and its votaries swore under the most fearful sanctions, to use it with fidelity; the victims were all certain of happiness eternal, in consequence of their being offered up in sacrifice to the goddess; many of the bands living in villages, have been regarded as the most peaceful, quiet, industrious, and benevolent citizens; and so long as the Thugs were faithful to their Kallee; so long as they attended to all the rites, the ceremonies and offerings by which they rendered to her worship and honour; so long as the order remained pure, and was not contaminated by the low and disreputable castes who never fail to infect those with whom they are associated; so long they prospered in their profession, so long did they enjoy the favour and the protection of their deity. But now, in consequence of these corruptions, they have fallen under her displeasure, and their system is likely to be exploded.

What a description do these assassins give of their murders! The traveller was arrested on his journey; the ascetic was strangled on his road to Juggernaut; the young sometimes have had their brains dashed out against a stone, and the old have had no mercy shown to them on account of their infirmities; the beautiful female and the pregnant mother have been treated with the same ferocity as the bold and daring; the wealthy merchant has lost his life as well as his gains and his riches; and the Rajah, equipped for his journey, attended by his friends, his servants, and his train of followers, accompanied by his elephants, his horses, his camels, his oxen, and all the paraphernalia of Eastern grandeur, has, with all his attendants, been murdered in a moment, and sixty persons have been consigned to one common grave. What to them was the kindness of friendship; the claims of hospitality; the interchange of social intercourse; the solemn promise; vows of protection to the young, the infirm, and the lovely; and the sympathies excited by the woes and the calamities of others! all these were disregarded; and when a kind host has been entertaining them at his table, and reposing his confidence in their brotherly regard, many of his guests have been engaged outside the tent, in preparing his tomb, and have given him and his relatives a sepulchre, as a reward for his entertainment.

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THE ENTRANCE OF THE KING OF GLORY. BY THE REV. JOHN WRIGHT, B.A.

Curate of Tysoe, Warwickshire.

DURING the ensuing week, we shall be called upon by our church to commemorate the Ascension of our Lord. An event so glorious and so blessed in its consequences cannot fail to occupy the thoughts of every true disciple of Jesus, and may well continue to do so. It is, as it were, the key-stone-the very strength of his faith, and hope, and joy; for when Christ was born, he came to do the will of God, and to be the Saviour of a ruined world. When he died upon the cross, he made atonement for sin, and secured an entrance for sinners "into the holy place." When he rose again from the dead, "He became the first fruits of them that slept;" but when he ascended upon high, he completed the wondrous work of man's redemption, by leading "captivity captive," and by opening "the kingdom of heaven to all believers." It was to this glorious event that the psalmist refers; "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle."

With respect to the ascension of our Lord, it may be observed, that it was glorious. When Christ was born, the angel of the Lord came to the shepherds, whilst tending their flocks in the plains of Bethlehem, and the "glory of the Lord shone round about them;"" and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to

VOL. VIII-NO. CCXXV.

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wards men." When Christ was crucified, although darkness covered the earth, and the heavens were shrouded in gloom, yet we may suppose, that those blessed angels which worship him, and constantly surround his throne, were filled with rapture at the reconciliation of God to man. And when Christ ascended into heaven, a glorious company of those happy spirits conducted him thither, singing and shouting together for joy, as they did when the foundations of the earth were laid. Forty days had passed away since the resurrection of Jesus from the grave, during which he continued to strengthen the faith, and to comfort the hearts of his disciples; and now that they were come together at the appointed time, to be witnesses of his exaltation and glory, "He led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lift up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." Here were no mighty earthquakes, and voices, and thunderings, to give grandeur to the scene, or to bring conviction to the minds of his disciples. All was calm and peaceful around, as he stood, with uplifted hands, blessing them, for the last time on earth, thereby testifying, that, "having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." Here, also, were no horses of fire, and chariots of fire, to take him away, and to remove him instantly out of sight; but whilst he was in the act of blessing them (like good old Jacob his sons, or Moses the tribes of Israel), by his own almighty power, he slowly and majestically rose; and as they beheld, taking a cloud for his chariot, his glorious body at length became lost to view. Conceive, then, the ascension of the "Lord of glory;"-conceive

[London: Joseph Rogerson, 24, Norfolk-street,Strand

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him rising from the mount of Olives, and | likewise showed that Christ, after having ascending in a cloud, attended by angels, sent from heaven to meet him on his way :-conceive those blessed spirits, clad in robes all white and glistering, accompanying him to the realms of bliss, and demanding in joyful song, that those everlasting gates and doors, hitherto shut against the race of Adam, be instantly opened;-"Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in."

But the ascension of our Lord was not only glorious-it was also triumphant. We are told by the disciple "whom Jesus loved," that angels keep the gates of the heavenly Jerusalem; when, therefore, an entrance was demanded for the "King of glory," this question was asked,-" Who is the King of glory"-"this that cometh with dyed garments from Bozrah"-"this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength?" To which question the angels, composing his glorious train, replied, "The Lord strong, and mighty; the Lord mighty in battle." He it is, the Lord Jesus Christ-victorious over sin, Satan, and death, that now commands those everlasting gates and doors to be unbarred and thrown open to himself and all his people.-Yes, the Lord of glory ascended with great triumph into his kingdom in heaven. Sin, Satan, and death were his foes, but these he vanquished and subdued; sin, in that, when surrounded by sin, he continued to keep himself "holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners;" Satan, in that, when tempted, he resisted temptation, and trampled him beneath his feet; death, in that, when confined in the grave, he burst his fetters, and rose again the third day. Having thus overcome his most powerful enemies, the "Lord, strong and mighty," rose all-glorious, all-triumphant from the earth, and, passing through the starry firmament, ascended to the highest heavens, and sat down at the right hand of God, "far above all principalities and powers, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but in that which is to come."

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Proceed we now to consider the end of our Lord's ascension. Then first it may be observed, that it was for the purpose of becoming a high-priest, and intercessor before God. Under the law, the high-priest was appointed to enter into the holy of holies once every year, which showed that Christ was in due time to enter as a high-priest into the heaven of heavens. And moreover, under the law, the high-priest was commanded to pass through the tabernacle, and with the blood of the sacrifice to enter within the veil; which

offered himself a sacrifice, was to pass through the temple of the world, and, with his own blood, to enter into the very presence of God. All this, then, Christ has now performed; "for being come an high-priest of good things to come, by a greater, and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." Christ is in heaven as our most constant high-priest, and most gracious advocate with God. Every priest, under the law, "stood daily ministering, and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices which could never take away sins:" but Christ, "after he had offered our sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of God." Through the merits of his blood, he is always ready to hear our fervent prayers, and to present them an acceptable sacrifice at the "throne of grace.” He is always ready to listen to our requests, and effectually to plead our cause, with his heavenly Father: "He is entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us," and therefore every faithful disciple may joyfully exclaim with the apostle, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth: who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who is even at the hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."

Again:-It may be observed, that the end of our Lord's ascension was for the purpose of preparing a place for us. Christ comforted his disciples with these words, "I go to prepare a place for you; and, if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where Í am, there ye may be also." The ascension of our Lord, therefore, is an earnest of our own: he is the head, we are the members; he is the vine, we are the branches; and therefore we may look forward to be admitted to those blessed mansions where he now dwells, the "chiefest among ten thousand," and "altogether lovely." But in order to realize the happy prospect, we must remember to have our thoughts constantly fixed upon him. If our treasure be in heaven, there our hearts must be also. "If we be risen with Christ," we must "seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." If we be "dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God," we must "set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth;" then, "when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, we shall also appear with him in glory."

Once more:-The end of our Lord's ascension, was for the purpose of imparting the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit. The apostles would never have preached the glad tidings of redemption; nor would their converts have been disposed to hear, had not the Holy Ghost been given them from above. It was therefore needful that the Son of God should ascend, in order that the Spirit of God might descend, as his own words testify: "It is expedient," says he, "for you, that I go away; for, if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but, if I depart, I will send him unto you." The gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit are still continued to be poured down upon all true members of Christ's redeemed and ransomed family, helping them to overcome the many enemies and hindrances of their salvation, and to do that which is good and acceptable in the sight of God. How thankful, then, should we be to God, for this unspeakable mercy! He has laid help upon one that is strong and mighty to save his people from their sins; for Christ, having gained a complete victory over all the enemies of the soul, is now seated at the 66 right hand of the Majesty on high," and "able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

calling themselves by the name of the same Saviour, met together in deadly strife, and spilt one another's blood as water; and they could point in our own bourhood, to spots now smooth and green, as though church-yard, and in the church-yards of the neighbodies of those who were slain in war. They could the turf had never been disturbed, where sleep the tell us also how, when they were gathered together to worship God, they were liable to be broken in upon by armed soldiers, and to have their service turned into ridicule, their prayer-books torn in pieces before some places, the churches were defaced and pillaged, their eyes, and themselves rudely handled-how, in and in others were turned into barracks for soldiers, or stables for horses. They could tell us, how for a time, there was no one to put the laws in force, and every man did what was right in his own eyes, and crime had licence to grow, till robbery and murder

became common offences.

Those were evil times. For the sins of the nation God to suffer anarchy and confusion to prevail. There (doubtless the sins of both rulers and people), it pleased had been oppression on the part of those in power, and this was followed by insubordination and rebellion on the part of those in subjection. And ungodly men, disregarding the plain precepts of God's word, took the law into their own hands, rose up against their king, tore the crown from his head, and after their own fashion, till people grew weary of dipped their swords in his blood; and then they ruled strife, and sick of contention, and sighed for past times, and wished for the peace and tranquillity which, till they lost, they knew not how to value. And so, when for nearly twenty years they had been schooled and disciplined with the rod themselves had made, it pleased God, of his mercy, to put it into their hearts,

KING CHARLES' RESTORATION-THE DUTY of their own accord, to restore matters, as far as

OF SUBMISSION TO HUMAN LAWS. A CLERGYMAN'S ADDRESS TO HIS PARISHIONERS.* PERHAPS some of you wondered, at least till the prayers themselves gave the explanation, what could be the reason of the alterations made in the service this morning? The reason is, because to-day is the 29th of May.

might be, to their former state. It was on this day 176 years ago, May 29th 1660, that the rightful king was brought back to his throne. "I stood in the Strand," says one who lived in those times, and was by when Charles the Second made his entry into London, "I stood and beheld it, and blessed God; and all this was done without one drop of blood shed, and by that very army which rebelled against him. But it was the Lord's doing, for such a restoration was never mentioned in any history ancient or modern since the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, nor so joyful a day and so bright ever seen in this nation; this happening, when to expect or effect it, was past all human policy.t

It is in commemoration then of this great and sig

And what is there in the 29th of May that it should be distinguished from other days? I need scarcely mention that it is the anniversary of a very signal blessing vouchsafed to this nation," the deliverance of these kingdoms from the great rebellion, and all the miseries and oppressions consequent thereupon," and the restoration of the monarchy and of the pub-nal blessing, that the 29th of May has been appointed lic and free profession of our religion, according to the form delivered down from former ages. Every one has heard of the wars and commotions which, it is now nearly 200 years ago, distracted our country. Our forefathers witnessed them with their own eyes; they could tell us, if they were alive, how men stood in doubt whether they should sow their fields, because they knew not but that before the harvest came their crops might be trodden under foot by contending armies. They could tell us, how within the sound of our church-bells, even in the fields of our own parish, men, born in the same country, and

• This address is the substance of a sermon preached in Wardington church, Oxfordshire, on Sunday, May 29th, 1836, by the Rev. Charles Abel Heurtley, M.A.

+ The parish referred to was the scene of one of Charles's conflicts. A field within half a mile of the church still bears the name of the "Ash Ground," from an ash tree under which the king rested before the fight, and the space around, which became of some importance in the course of the struggle. The parish register contains the following entry: "Anno Domini

1644, Junii 30, buried, John Burrell, cornet to Colonell Richard Neville. Mr. Burrell was slaine ye day before in ye battaile against ye rebells. Ita testor Henr. Dean, Capt. Regim." Another hand has drawn a pen through the words "against ye rerebelles," and written at the side "against ye parliament."

"Dec. 25 1657 I went to London with my wife to celebrate Christmas-day; Mr. Gunning preaching in Exeter chapell on Michah vii. 3. Sermon ended, as he was giving us the holy sacrament, the chapell was surrounded with souldiers, and all the communicants and assembly surpriz'd and kept prisoners by them. . . . As we went up to receive the sacrament the miscreants held their muskets against us as if they would have shot us at the altar, but yet suffering us to finish the office of communion, as, perhaps, not having instructions what to do in case they found us in that action." Evelyn's Diary, vol. ii. p. 126. "The soldiers would appear and visibly oppose and disturb him in the church when he read prayers, some of them pretending to advise him how God was to be served more acceptably; which he not approving, but continuing to observe order and decent behaviour in reading the church service, they forced his book from him and tore it, expecting extemporary prayers." Walton's Life of Bishop Sanderson, in Wordsworths's Eccles. Biog., vol. v. p. 495.

+ Evelyn's Diary, vol. ii. p. 149.

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