tions of a people separated from all other nations, and under the immediate government of God.

In the second part of this wonderful book he finds the highest affections of the mind excited by an account of the birth, life, sufferings, death, and resurrection of an extraordinary person, professing himself to be the SON OF GOD-the only-begotten SON OF GOD; and dying, not for himself, but (through the ignorance and malice of his enemies providentially permitted) for the sins of mankind. By a connected view of the two parts of this inestimable book, he sees God's great plan of the redemption of the world gradually unfold itself, from its opening in his gracious promise at the Fall, through a series of literal and typical prophecies, to its final accomplishment in the advent of the Messiah. With awe, and admiration, and gratitude he contemplates the deep unfathomable mystery of incarnate Deity a mystery which for ages lay hid in the designs of Providence, and was at length manifested to the world, attested by men and angels, declared by miracles and signs, by the glorious ascension of Jesus Christ, and by the effusion of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. This series of events, combining all the dignity of truth, with more than the wonders of fiction, deeply interests even an indifferent reader but a religious man and a Christian, and above all a minister of the Gospel, is touched with a more affecting sympathy, when he finds himself a party concerned; when he sees that he him

self is one of the transgressors for whom the great sacrifice was offered, when he beholds his own cause pleading, and nothing less than everlasting happiness or misery at issue. How greatly, then, must the effect on his own mind be increased, when, by rightly dividing the Word of Truth," and by combining with the grandeur of the subject his own. personal interest, he sees at one view, by the light of Scripture, the relative points which connect this great plan together.

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To the interesting pursuits of a studious life, the habits proper to the clerical office add the comforts of a peaceful life, infinitely enhanced in its value by the ends and sanctions which regulate it. To have the affections set on things above, and not on things on the earth," and so to "overcome the world;" to find the yoke of Christ easy; to "come with boldness to the throne of grace;" to be assured of acceptance with God in the name of Christ; these are the privileges of a sincere disciple of Christ, and sources of happiness eminently resulting from the conscientious exercise of the pastoral duties.

Having thus dilated on the blessings of a life devoted to the Christian ministry, he next touches upon its inestimable utility. He then briefly refers to the chain of evidence which establishes the authenticity of the Holy Scriptures, and the truth of Christianity; after which he enters upon a consideration of what may be called the difficulties and

discouragements of the clergy. To these he opposes many wise, consolatory, and animating observations; and winds up this part of the subject by the following passage:

"Justice can never be done to any profession which is pursued with aversion or indifference. Without loving his profession no one can become an able and faithful minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But to such, the love which David had for the priesthood, for its occupations and duties, will become a living principle of conduct.

Oh! how amiable are thy dwellings, thou Lord of hosts! My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God!""

The charge concludes with a description of the ends and objects proposed by a society to be called the Church Union Society, the establishment of which is described in an ensuing chapter. In an appendix the Bishop ably defends the principle of Mr. Granville Sharpe's Treatise on the Greek Definitive Article, in reply to the objections of the Rev. C. Winstanley.

CHAP. XVII.

PLANS PURSUED BY THE BISHOP FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF HIS DIOCESE.

We shall now place before our readers a general sketch of the plans pursued by Bishop Burgess to promote the diffusion of Christian light and knowledge throughout his extensive diocese. These plans were adopted within the first twelvemonth of his occupation of the see, and were carried on with little deviation, and with his characteristic stedfastness of purpose, throughout the long period of twentytwo years, during which he presided over it. His own personal habits and proceedings were scarcely less uniform than his plans. His life was divided between the active discharge of his episcopal duties and the laborious pursuits of an author and a scholar. Early and late he was employed with his books and his pen the dawn of day beheld him at his labours, whether in grappling with difficult theological questions, or composing catechisms for children, or instructions for his clergy; and the midnight oil was not spared in the prosecution of these important objects.

The general sketch, therefore, which we contemplate, will be equally that of the Bishop's life in

1803 and in 1820, varied only by official residences at Durham and attendance on parliamentary duties in London. The same may be said of his private history during the same long period. Nothing could be less diversified. His habits at the age of forty-seven and at seventy were perfectly similar,studious, self-denying, temperate, assiduous. The same simple tastes and pleasures also accompanied him from youth to age: the love of picturesque nature, of a meditative or social walk, or an agreeable drive, poetry, music, especially sacred music. Such also was the tenor of his mental qualities and feelings he was habitually amiable, gentle, humble, affectionate; but firm and inflexible in the maintenance of principle and the discharge of duty equally immovable in these respects, whether pressed to relax from his purposes by the first nobleman, or the humblest curate of his diocese. As a life of this description admits of no variety, the particulars will be included in a brief compass; and this will the more especially be the case between the years 1804 and 1823, because little of his correspondence during this period is in possession of the editor. The greater part of it was destroyed at the time the Bishop quitted Abergwilly for Salisbury.

By way of introduction, the following particulars. respecting the see of St. David's will not be found irrelevant.

The see of St. David's is of very great extent,