death in the last day, accompanied with the manifestation of the glory of his power, as Christ is recorded by one of old, "Our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. iii. 20). As this will be the terminus of death, and until which he must reign, being a priest upon his throne, so it will be his blessed title, until the final consummation of all things, "The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." Hence the privilege, as well as duty of ever coming to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Heb. iv. 16). In this way only can the burden of sin be removed, and that both by the perpetual intercession of the Lord Christ, and as he enables his people to look unto him by blessed faith as it is so blessedly exhibited by the Psalmist, or rather by Jesus himself, who is the chief speaker therein, "They looked unto him, and were lightened; and their faces were not ashamed" (Psalm xxxiv. 5). The sight of Jesus, God-man, by faith now is only the beginning of joy and peace unspeakable-since that which must follow it, and now remains for all such highly favoured ones is, as demanded for them by their glorious Head and Husband, "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world" (John xvii. 24). The beholding the Lamb of God now is accompanied with the taking away of sin, but hereafter, in that everlasting vision, it will be followed with his taking away their hearts in the eternal filling of, and captivating them with, himself, as being, not only all their salvation, but all their glory, and all their heaven, throughout the countless ages of eternity, and when this sweet text shall receive its fulfilment, "They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life in thy light shall we see light" (Psalm xxxvi. 8, 9). Reader! the Lord grant that this may be your privilege throughout this new year, that, as beginning so you may be brought to the end of it, made obedient to the faith in Christ, by grace, with admiration to "behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." "FEAR NOT." "Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not." Lamentations iii. 57. WHEN SOrrows overwhelmed my heart, And filled with anguish every thought; When grief conveyed its keenest smart, Then, gracious Lord, thou saidst "Fear not." The world, that lies in guilt and sin, Its charms proposed, with evil fraught ; Then, gracious Lord, thou saidst "Fear not." From fleshly frame, corrupt and base, Then, gracious Lord, thou saidst "Fear not." When Satan's shafts flew thick around, "Thou drewest near "in that blest day, And oh the wonders Thou hast wrought; Thou saidst, O gracious Lord, "Fear not." "Thou drewest near" when flesh and sense Thou saidst, O gracious Lord, "Fear not." "Thou drewest near "when Satan's power Thou saidst, O gracious Lord, "Fear not." "Twas "when I called," believer, hear! Oh! let us ceaseless call on Thee; Let all our cares to Thee be brought : So that at all times we may be Assured that Thou dost say, "Fear not." Spirit divine! Almighty Guide! Nor ne'er forget, thou saidst "Fear not." Wandsworth Road. W. G. FIVE WORDS UPON THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A BISHOP, ADDRESSED TO DR. S. WILBERFORCE, THE NEWLYELECTED BISHOP OF OXFORD. MR. BISHOP, With a rapidity almost unprecedented in these modern times of Church and State affairs, we have seen your transmutation from the venerable Archdeacon of Surry, to the Right Rev. Bishop of Oxford. So limited was your stay at the deanery, that we have no idea how far you would have rectified existing abuses in the Collegiate Church of Westminster; and I much fear whether Oxford will retain you a sufficient time to effect any radical change in the present morbid state of that diocese; neither am I certain that Dr. Wilberforce is altogether free from the ultra-Laudeanism, or semi-Romanism of the day. Bishops of late have not deserved or called forth what was once said of the great Usher, "Magnum Usserium! Excellentissimum Dei servum ! Reverendissimum virum Dei! Seculi nostri Athanasium, Maximum Britanniæ decus! Usher the great, the most excellent servant of God, the most revered man of God, the Athanasius of our age, Britain's greatest glory."-vide Oration by Morus. Good Asaph informs us that promotion cometh neither from the east, from the west, nor from the south (Psalm lxxv. 6). It does not appear so at Downing Street, where, by somewhat of atmospheric pressure, Bishops are quickly made; and the mere waive of the minister's hand, like in a manner with the philosopher's stone, possesses the mysterious art of changing deans into bishops. But it is not with who made him, or the motives of his elevation to the mitre, upon which I would now detain the Bishop of Oxford. The very character of a bishop implies that the kingdom he seeks is not of this world; and the name must be a misnomer if he forsakes not the pomps and vanities of this naughty world, seeing they are to "feed the flock which is among them, taking the oversight not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind" (1 Peter v. 2). It is upon this ground I have felt desirous of having "Five Words" with the Bishop. From the days when the "Horn Book" was my companion, an article not used in instruction at the present time, the name of Wilberforce has been familiar, both in the senate and in the paths of philanthropy; nor will ages to come cease to vibrate with pleasure the name of "Africa's Friend," though the wrongs of Africa might not all be redressed. What that name might do in connection with the Episcopal bench is somewhat foreign to the present subject, and ill becomes me to prejudge; time alone will make manifest whether Dr. Wilberforce be one of those priests whom the prophet says have "polluted the sanctuary" (Zep. iii. 4). My solicitation to the Bishop is, that of his clemency he will hear me these "Five Words;" for in all probability, though smiling friends, with cringing sycophants, might have deluged his ears with fulsome congratulation, not one as yet have spoken to him "Five Words" with the understanding, or whispered to him those forcible words of wisdom, "The elders who rule well are worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in word and doctrine" (1 Tim. v. 17). Think it not arising from ostentation, Mr. Bishop, that an humble inmate of a Metropolitan stall should presume to call attention to "Five Words." Who can tell whether I may not yet live to see you Bishop of London? and then, if not better acquainted, at all events we shall be located nearer, though I can hardly expect the "even tenor of my way will ever be broken in upon by a bishop's visit, or that ever "Crispin " will receive promotion from the present Church-dynasty, enough for me to be content in that state of life unto which it hath pleased Providence to call me, filling in the monotony of old age by gathering with the glimmering light of the midnight lamp a few of those shreds which have accumulated, which, I trust, are not unprofitable to my fellow-craftsmen; for such is the hidden and unknown manner of my life, that but little knowledge of minor things are found with me; no daily journals load my table, yet a little téte-a-téle talk over my neighbour's counter in the Row, now and then furnish me with clerical movements. "Vérité sans peur" Mr. Bishop, in matters between you and me. From your first emancipation from under the care of "Alma Mater," your lot has been to bask in the sunshine and favour of royalty; and well it hath been, if, in the exercise of a royal chaplain, you have not restrained prayer from the ear of your royal Master, upon the same frivolous pretext as your colleague the Bishop of Exeter, because a ball had been recently held therein. It is to be feared that the atmosphere of a court is not very conducive to a spiritual life, or for creating a fear of God in the heart; how needful, then, that our great men should be good men, and above all, our bishops should be "the excellent of the earth," and the more so from the free access now given, and the consanguinity subsisting between the Protestant house of Brunswick and the adherents to the Romish Pontiff. Would it not be the duty of Protestant bishops, and royal chaplains, to warn our young and tender Queen of the danger the nation is in from the host of Jesuits scattered throughout her borders, and, as in the case of king Josiah, let her read the law of her God in the house of the Lord, and not confine her to the solemn mummery of the private chapel? The long usage of these things augurs not well, nor gives us much hope, that in your elevation to the crozier, we shall find you bold and determinate in resisting the Oxford heresy, for, be assured, the late secessions from her boards would not so soon have taken place, were it not that within are those who can better further at this time, the plots and designs of the apostate Church. There can be no doubt that more than two-thirds of the younger clergy are beguiled with this soul destroying poison, which has so long been undermining this seat of learning, the growth of which hath been strengthened by the imbecility and indifference of our bishops; yea, in the too close approximation of such men as London and Exeter. To this show in will-worship, in scholastic lore, our bench of bishops may make a fair show, but in true theology they are mere novices, and the day has long declined when England, through her representatives, ranked high in the Synod of Theology. In the celebrated council of Dort the champions of Protestantism were mighty in their generation-men of renown-and "Flos Scholasticorum" they might truly be called; and to them, under God's blessing, we owe the maintenance of the "five points" the stabilty of our reformed Church. In what ratio the see of Oxford might stand upon the "sliding scale" which regulates bishoprics, it is not possible for me to say; yet, from the rapidity already displayed in your progress towards the mitre, it is not very likely should things at Downing Street remain without alteration, the Oxford one will long adorn your head. Canterbury and York are holding by slender threads, while London is in a continual tremour, lest his presumptive right should be invaded. Thus I fear there is but little hope that even Dr. Wilberforce will have courage to beard the common foe, but, following in the van of his predecessor, and the far-famed Henry of Exeter, will leave Oxford to the care of whoever may come after. "Amor patræ! Where are our Ridleys and Latimers? My "Five Words" will swell, I fear, beyond the bounds allowable in the only channel through which it is possible I could address you. The importance of the subject seems to demand it, though some may think me vain in presuming to address a bishop of the Protestant Church, upon what is considered and understood as the sole Elixir of all true and genuine religion, and in my humble view claims priority in the "Five Words" to which I now call the attention of Dr. Wilberforce; I mean regeneration; and think it not strange that any doubt should pervade my mind regarding a bishop's knowledge of this important doctrine of the Christian faith. History furnishes us too well with the sad proof that all bishops have not been enriched with this heavenly gift; nor is it for me to say, should " Baron Brougham direct an attack upon the present bench of bishops upon the theory of the doctrine, how many of the number would be brought to the position of Nicodemus, and with surprise ask, "How can these things be?" for it is well known, that in the making of a bishop, these are the last things thought of. Dr. Wilberforce, if endued with a right spirit, in entering upon his bishopric will not feel grieved with the humble inmate of a stall for advocating and maintaining a thesis so well founded in reason and revelation, and so essential in the formation of character in every faithful minister, whether bishop or deacon, that he should be savingly converted to God himself ere he exercise that holy calling as the Lord's instrument, in the conversion of others; for unless he hath himself par |