Page images
PDF
EPUB

read the encouraging announcement that three new bishoprics in Australia, and one for the Cape of Good Hope, have just been formed, which will make the number of the missionary chief pastors of our Church not less than twenty-one.

We read in the report for 1703:-" An unknown lady has cast in lately £1000 into the treasury of the Society." Not an unpleasing parallel is afforded in the commencement which has been made, that two of these newly founded bishoprics owe their endowment to the munificence of one christian lady.

The income of the Society in its first year, was £800 in subscriptions, and £1700 in donations. In 1846, the total receipts of the Society, including one-third of the triennial Queen's letter, was £78,000.

Hereafter we shall hope to enter more into detail respecting the past and present operations of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. The following sentence from the interesting historical notices of its missions, by the Rev. E. Hawkins, will not inappropriately close the general comparison which we have been instituting between its first and latest exertions. This sentence affords a comment upon the weighty remark which accompanies it. "Whatever be cast into the soil of a new country, be it seed or tares, will take root and spring up with an abundant harvest.

"At the time when the Church established its first mission on the shores of New England, in 1702, the total populat of the American colonies may be computed at 250,00 the declaration of Independence, it was about 3,000 amounts now to 17,000,000: and should the sam increase continue, it will in onere centur two and three hundred millions."

[graphic]
[ocr errors]
[graphic][subsumed][ocr errors][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed]

THE FRUITS ON FAITH IN THE CHURCH.

THE LAST DAYS OF BISHOP SANDERSON.

The day before he took his bed, which was three days before his death, he, that he might receive a new assurance for the pardon of his sins past, and be strengthened in his way to the New Jerusalem, took the blessed Sacrament of the body and blood of his and our blessed Jesus, from the hands of his chaplain, Mr. Pullin, accompanied with his wife, children, and a friend, in as awful, humble, and ardent a manner, as outward reverence could express. After the praise and thanksgiving for it was ended, he spake to this purpose: "Thou, O God, tookest me out of my mother's womb, and hast been the powerful protector of me to this present moment of my life. Thou hast neither forsaken me now I am become grey headed, nor suffered me to forsake thee in the late days of temptation, and sacrifice my conscience for the preservation of my liberty or estate.”

The frequent repetition of the psalms of David has been noted to be a great part of the devotion of the primitive Christians; the psalms having in them not only prayers and holy instructions, but such commemorations of God's mercies as may preserve comfort, and confirm our dependance on the power and providence and mercy of our Creator. And this is mentioned in order to tell that as the holy psalmist said, that, "His eyes should prevent both the dawning of the day, and the night watches, by meditating on God's word;" so it was Dr. Sanderson's constant practice every morning, to entertain his first waking thoughts with a repetition of those very psalms that the Church hath appointed to be read in the daily morning service; and having at night laid him in his bed, he as constantly closed his eyes with the repetition of those appointed for the evening service; remembering and repeating the very psalms appointed for every day; and as the month had formerly ended and began again, so did this exercise of his devotion. And if his waking thoughts were of the world, or what concerned it, he would arraign and condemn himself for it. Thus he began the work on earth, which is now his employment in heaven.

After his taking his bed, and about a day before his death, he desired his chaplain, Mr. Pullin, to give him absolution; and at his performing that office he pulled off his cap, that Mr. Pullin might lay his hand upon his bare head. After this desire of his was satisfied, his body seemed to be at more ease, and his mind

more cheerful: and he said, "Lord forsake me not, now my strength faileth me, but continue thy mercy, and let my mouth be filled with thy praise." He continued the remaining night and day very patient, and thankful for any of the little offices that were performed for his ease and refreshment; and during that time did often say the 103rd psalm to himself, and very often these words; "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed where true joy is to be found." His thoughts seemed now to be wholly of death, for which he was so prepared, that the king of terrors could not surprise him, "as a thief in the night;" for he had often said, he was prepared and longed for it. And as this desire seemed to come from heaven, so it left him not till his soul ascended to that region of blessed spirits, whose employments are to join in concert with him, and sing praise and glory to that God, who hath brought them to that place, "into which sin and sorrow cannot enter."-Walton's Lives,

PAST MISSIONS.

King Oswald, as soon as he ascended the throne, A.D. 650, being desirous that all his nation should receive the Christian faith, whereof he had found happy experience in vanquishing the barbarians, sent to the elders of the Scots, among whom himself and his followers, when in banishment, had received the sacrament of baptism, desiring they would send him a bishop, by whose instruction and ministry the English nation, which he governed, might be taught the advantages, and receive the sacraments of the Christian faith. Nor were they slow in granting his request, but sent him Bishop Aidan, a man of 'singular meekness, piety, and moderation. On the arrival of the bishop, the king appointed him his episcopal see in the isle of Lindisfarn, as he desired: the king also humbly and willingly in all cases giving ear to his admonitions, industriously applied himself to build and extend the Church of Christ in his kingdom; wherein, when the bishop, who was not skilful in the English tongue, preached the gospel, it was most delightful to see the king himself interpreting the word of God to his commanders and ministers, for he had perfectly learned the language of the Scots during his long banishment. From that time many of the Scots came daily into Britain, and with great devotion preached the Word to those provinces of the English over which King Oswald reigned; and those among them that had received priests' orders, administered to them the grace of baptism. Churches were built in several places; the people joyfully flocked together to hear the Word; money and lands were given of the king's bounty

to build monasteries. The English, great and small, were by their Scottish masters instructed in the rules and observances of regular discipline, for most of them that came to preach were monks. Bishop Aidan was himself a monk of the island called Hii, whose monastery was for a long time the chief of almost all those of the northern Scots, and all those of the Picts, and had the direction of their people. That island belongs to Britain, being divided from it by a small arm of the sea, but had been long since given by the Picts, who inhabit those parts of Britain, to the Scottish monks, because they had received the faith of Christ through their preaching.-Bede's Ecclesiastical History.

PRESENT MISSION.

The number of Missionaries mentioned in whole or in part by the SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATING THE GOSPEL is 314. In addition to these the number of Divinity Students, Catechists, and Schoolmasters, is above 300.

Ye messengers of Christ,

His sovereign voice obey;
Arise and follow, where He leads,

And peace attend your way.

The master whom you serve,
Will needful strength bestow;
Depending on His promised aid,
With sacred courage go.

Go, speak a Saviour's love,
And tell His matchless grace,
To the most guilty and depraved
Of Adam's num'rous race.

We wish you in His name,

In all your work success;

We pray that He who sends you forth,
May all your labours bless.

Some people seem no more to know the Scriptures as a whole, then the moth-worm knows the elaborate pattern and manycoloured texture of the beautiful piece of embroidery, out of which its little mouth just gnaws a small sufficiency to construct its narrow case.-British Critic.

« PreviousContinue »