that while they did all this, they should mean no more by it than just to keep themselves in a capacity to serve their old master upon the first favourable occasion. Now I know not what authority such an instrument might have, if issued out from the see of Rome, to a set of zealous Catholics; but I am persuaded no one who professes and retains the true principles of the Church of England, would think it of any force at all to secure and absolve his conscience, though it came from a prince of never so undoubted a right to his allegiance. It is a rule that holds in all kinds of converse, but much more in all our solemn and religious pledges, that if we are knowingly false and faithless in the words we speak out to be heard, we are nevertheless so, nor is our case one jot the better for our most deliberate reservations to the contrary; for what is anyone concerned with the secrets that are withheld in another's mind? By the words we speak out to be heard, by those our sincerity must stand or fall; and therefore, if what we express be either directly false, or at least such an indirect truth, as is contrived and uttered on purpose to keep men from that part of our right mind and meaning, which is the chief thing in demand, this is speaking out fallaciously, and with a deliberate intent to deceive, and consequently 'tis complete and round lying, and we are not one jot the honester or better men for our inward reservations; for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

requires this of him; but because, having inquired into the principles and doctrines of the Church, in the true and faithful manner prescribed by it, he does of his own free and willing mind, of his own knowledge and faith, assent to, and believe in the things propounded to him in the Articles. Here is conviction,-here is freedom of inquiry and thought,-here is the glad and happy spirit of a conscience void of offence before God and man. Having understood the charter of the Church's Gospel-liberty, displayed in the Articles, he receives and adopts the truths contained therein, as his own hope of salvation, and in sincerity and truth, the word and promises of God." (The Churchman's Monthly Review, for February 1845; p. 106.)

I have now brought my subject to a close; and would, in conclusion, ask, whether the subject does not lead us to consider the signs of the times, since "truce-breakers" are among the ungodly of the perilous times, (2 Tim. iii. 1, 3)? May we all be stirred up to more holiness, zeal, and watchfulness; and may we not forget to pray for guidance for all our Rulers, Prelates, and Ministers, and that God will not permit the light of his glorious Gospel to be extinguished in this land. May our rulers not forget Ps. ii. 1012; xxxiii. 12—17.

C. H. D. (B. A. Oxon.)

never so effectually as when they have succeeded in withdrawing men from the general study of the SCRIPTURES themselves, which are the appointed sources of pure and uncorrupted truth. They are the means especially by which we become acquainted with Christ, and by which the Holy Spirit ordinarily operates on our minds. They are the means of sanctification; hence, our Lord prays for his disciples,"Sanctify them by thy truth, thy Word is truth."

:

:

In CHRIST, then, and in him alone, is truth, eternal, Saving Truth to be found. He who is called in the Old Testament, "Wisdom;" and in the, New Testament is entitled "the Word of God." "In whom," says St. Paul, "dwell all the fulness of the Godhead bodily for it pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell:in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge: :-we are complete in him, who of God is made unto us, Wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord."

And these doctrines are based on the fact, that, as St. John says, "The word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, (the glory | as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." Christ himself declares, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Whatever, therefore, does not conduct us to Christ, leads us astray, and keeps us from God. Whatever we attain short of Christ, will not avail for our salvation,—for there is salvation in Him and none other. We may gather a few stray, reflected beams from other objects, but Christ is the sun of righteousness-In his face shines all the glory of God, and around his cross, all the attributes of justice, mercy, know

ledge, holiness, and power combine, in harmonious grandeur: and, like the gracious bow of Heaven, those mingled splendours are the eternal token of God's covenant with man.

66

Christ is truth!-First, because he is the source of all perfection. As God, he is essentially true, for it is 'impossible that God should lie," and equally impossible that he should err the first being a contradiction of his holiness; and the second an implication of his omnipotence. But as God-man, Christ is both the expression of truth, and the truth of all perfection: in him was truth manifested, obedience exemplified, holiness embodied. "For this cause," says he, came I into the world, that I should bear witness of the truth.

Secondly, Christ exhibited truth in his life and doctrine. "He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. In him dwelt no sin, neither was guilt found in his mouth; he spake as never man spake, and spake as one having authority; in him was life, and the life was the light of men." Knowing all these things, he condescended to our mortal nature, that he might convey all needful knowledge, as well by example as precept. Hence, during his stay on earth," he fulfilled the whole law, and made it honourable;" he even went beyond it, in teaching a holiness exceeding its literal requirements. By his perfect knowledge of our corrupt nature, he was enabled to detect sin in the most secret recesses of the heart, and under the most specious guises of the mind; and to exhibit his divine wisdom in their correction, by laying the restraint on the desire, as well as the act, thereby crushing the serpent in the egg, and cleansing the polluting waters at their source.

Our Lord, moreover, exhibited clearer prospects of Heaven and hell: he set forth with vividness the terrors

of the final judgment, and has lent us bright but distant glances of eternal truths beyond the barrier of the grave. For "life and immortality (or incorruption, aphtharsia) are brought to light by the Gospel." Thus, then, did he display truth in his life and doctrines.

But, thirdly, Christ exhibited divine truth in his death, resurrection, and ascension, and by the descent of the Holy Spirit, which proceedeth from the Father and the Son. By "the sacrifice of himself once offered," he showed the infinite odiousness of sin, and the unbending justice and holiness of God. How great were these, which needed such an atonement to satisfy their claims ! He also manifested the mercy of the Father, in sending forth his Son, and his own love to sinners in giving himself for them. He removed the veil of separation which sin had drawn between God and man,--un· folded the mercy seat, and the way to the throne of grace. By his resurrection he burst the gates of the grave, and opened the portals of Heaven; he afforded the hope of life and incorruption to those who were "dead in trespasses and sins, and gave unequivocal assurance that all men shall hereafter arise with their bodies, and they who sleep in Christ, shall awake to life and glory.

By the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT, Christ has shed a broad light on all the types, shadows, and prophecies of the Old Testament: in him we behold their fulfilment, either past, present or prospective. The clouds and darkness which rest upon the ways of Providence and grace, are in some measure pierced by the eye of faith, and visions of future and eternal ages burst through the gloominess of the grave. Christ, now at the right hand of God, is sought through the aid of the spirit, and displayed to the conscience arrayed in the robes of holiness and truth.

"The spirit taketh of the things of Christ, and sheweth them to us;" whilst he pleads the sinners' cause before the Father's throne, his grace is made perfect in our weakness; for he is ever ready to pour forth light, and comfort, and joy, to the weakest, darkest soul that comes by faith to him.

Christ now exhibits truth to his CHURCH, and to the world, in his offices of Prophet, Priest, and King. As king, he reveals the law of God and his power to the world. As prophet, he teaches the way of salvation to the Church. As priest, he exhibits to the eye of faith, the believer robed in his own spotless righteousness, and washed in his atoning blood, before the throne, and in the presence of the angels, as he will hereafter actually present him before assembled worlds, at his judgment-seat, and in his glorious kingdom.

The truth, as it is in Jesus, is, through the Providence of God, preserved to us in the SCRIPTURES. There we have the words of the Saviour, who says, "Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." The Scriptures are the mirror and treasury of truth: they contain many things hard to be understood, which, as St. Peter says, they who are unstable rest to their own condemnation:" many things which from their very nature are mysterious, and some which the moss of time has rendered obscure.

66

This fact is the great argument for a SETTLED AND WELL-LEARNED MINISTRY, who can devote their lives to such studies, as the many have neither time nor ability to pursue. But, thanks be to God, the grand and necessary truths are as clear as noonday; "he may run that readeth; the wayfaring man though a fool, need not err" in those things which concern his salvation. In this Protestant Church and country, the Bible is open to all,

our

and happy is it for us of the Establish- | ment, that the profounder truths have been sifted and proved, and explained in the clearest language, in CREEDS, LITURGY, ARTICLES, and HOMILIES; which, while they are the comprehension of all sound learning and really Catholic doctrine, commend themselves to all men's consciences, by a constant appeal to the simple Word of God.

In these, and by the ministration of the Word, the Church has provided for all her members, whatever is needful for life and godliness: and they who differ from her, little know how much of their own orthodoxy is preserved, as well as their liberty secured, by her example and neighbourhood.

which die in the Lord from henceforth : Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them."-Revel. xiv. 13.

Dr. Philip Nicholas Shuttleworth, late Bishop of Chichester, was lineally descended through a younger branch from Sir Richard Shuttleworth,* Knt. of of Chester in 31st Eliz. He was born Gawthorp, in Lancashire, Chief Justice on the 9th Feb. 1782, at Kirkham, in Lancashire, of which parish his father, the Rev. Humphrey Shuttleworth, was then vicar; and afterwards also Vicar of Preston, in the same county, and Prebendary in the Cathedral of York. His mother was Anne, only child of Philip Hoghton, Esq., the third son of Sir Charles Hoghton, Bart., of Hoghton Tower, Lancashire. He received the rudiments of his education at the Corporation Grammar School, in Preston, of which place his father was afterwards vicar. He was sent at the age of fourteen to Winchester College; and was afterwards admitted a scholar on the nomination of the Head Master of that College, the Rev. Dr. Goddard, who outlived him. Here he became remarkable for the composition of English and Latin Non "His poem on moriar' displayed a vigour of thought and power of poetical diction, much beyond the ordinary capacity of boys of

verse.

omnis

*The Shuttleworths appear to have been an ancient and opulent family.