is nothing he more strives to keep us from. "the congregation whom you serve." The This is the "incense" we have "to burn:" it under-shepherd, then, must be "not neglishould be as a heavenward flame, always aris- gent" in devising plans and executing them, ing form our hearts. And, speaking to those in carrying them on in faith and patience and who doubtless know the value of such in undeteriorated zeal, in improving them and their own practice, I would venture to allude bringing increased wisdom, grace, and energy to the benefit to ourselves and our charge to the blessed work and labour of love; for, which must result from having special and to quote again from the well-known office, fixed seasons for remembering the circum-"if it shall happen to the same church, or any stances and individual cases of our people at member thereof, to take any hurt or hindrance the throne of grace. by reason of your negligence, ye know the greatness of the fault, and also the horrible punishment that will ensue. Wherefore consider with yourselves the end of your ministry towards the children of God, towards the spouse and body of Christ; and see that you never cease your labour, your care and diligence, until you have done all that lieth in you, according to your bounden duty, to bring all such as are or shall be committed to your charge, unto that agreement in the faith and knowledge of God, and to that ripeness and perfectness of age in Christ, that there be no place left among you either for error in religion or for viciousness in life."

But we must proceed. We have seen our calling, its object, and some of the means whereby, with God's blessing, it is to be effected. And the text reminds us of our position, that ". we stand befor the Lord." Our peculiar attitude is that we "stand before the Lord." We are often inclined to feel as before man, but we ought to have every thought swallowed up in the sense of being before God to witness for him; constantly under his piercing, holy, gentle, guiding eye; before God, who hath called us, with the highest, most holy, most honourable calling, to stand upon the wateh-towers of his Zion.

From the whole we must be prepared for the exhortation: Therefore" be not now negligent." It was those, we read," whose hearts were stirred up within them" that set forward the rearing of the tabernacle. It was David, of whom we read that his "affection was set on the house of the Lord," and who could say, "I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God," who collected the "silver and gold" and "marble stones" for "the holy house;" and, if we would be instrumental in building the heavenly temple upon the "sure foundation," we must give our "affection" and "all our might" to the work, and, when the world would call us, or sloth and self-indulgence tempt us, answer like Nehemiah when building the walls of Zion, and say, "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down." Negligence is culpable in the commonest temporal duties, more so in the statesman, whose unadvised expression might promote disloyalty, or in the counsellor, who spared the midnight oil in weighing every word and argument which could tell for his client; but what must it be in spiritual and eternal things, in us, who plead for God, for souls, and eternity? The minister is a physician sent to thousands dying of disease, with a sovereign remedy; therefore, "be not now negligent" in seeking out every soul and applying the balm until it heals and has life for heaven. Well may our faithful mother, the church, exhort us: "Have always, therefore, printed in your remembrance, how great a treasure is committed to your charge; for they are the sheep of Christ,"

Diligence soon shows us that our position is not exempt from difficulty; but a soldier is called and harnessed not to slumber, but to fight: our profession is one not of ease and luxury, but of labour and self-denial. We cannot expect ease when our chief Captain had sorrow, and exhorts us, "Be not now negligent," ""endure hardness." It was the saying of a devoted servant of God, when on his death-bed, that he had been only half awake; and sure I am, if we view things in the light of eternity, if faith raises the veil between us and things not seen, we shall feel, at the best, we have been little more than sleeping. We should stand, like St. John, within hearing of the golden harps and songs of melody of the New Jerusalem: then shall we earnestly lead our people the up-hill path to the holy land. We should stand, like Noah, believing the judgment coming on the world: then shall we faithfully preach, though men may mock. Like men seeing the smoke of the torment which ascendeth up for ever and ever: then shall we "labour and be in travail for souls night and day;" for our words must be "a savour of life unto life, or death unto death." We must meet the souls committed to our charge before the throne of God; and we must either bring them to Christ, or see them lie down in everlasting burnings. Satan is diligent: death is busy; but the Spirit of God waits to be gracious; therefore, "be not now negligent." And St. Paul says: "I charge thee, therefore, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing

and his kingdom, preach the word; be instant in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine."

wrestlings which belong to the faithful pastor. Value him and love him for his work's sake. Ministers are men" oflike passions with yourselves;" but do not stumble at their infirmities, do not reject the gospel treasure because it is brought in an earthen vessel. Wait patiently upon your pastor's ministry: go to him on the concerns of your souls, it is your duty and your privilege. Many blame the ministry without using the means which under God would bring a blessing. If you would receive spiritual good from our labours, you must hold up our hands by your prayers.

mistakes: care for us for the gospel's sake, notwithstanding our imperfection and manifold unworthiness; but, above all, pray that we may have light and grace, be kept humble and holy, and gain seals to our ministry and souls for our hire.

God calls the minister: the church requires perishing souls supplicate: "Be ye not now negligent." Be not negligent in prayer, whereby alone a real blessing can rest on your labours. The successful minister must be an anointed one, filled with "the golden oil" of the Spirit; like Barnabas, who was "a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost; and so much people was added unto the Lord." "Will and ability are given of the" Brethren, pray for us." Bear with our Lord alone; therefore ye ought, and have need, to pray earnestly"; plead, then, with God that you be not dry and sapless, but "filled with the Spirit." "Not negligent" in study; for "the priest's lips should keep knowledge;" and, in order to this, "give thyself to reading." "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." "Pray for the heavenly assistance of the Holy Ghost, that by daily reading and weighing of the scriptures ye may wax riper and stronger in the ministry." Dread an hour's idleness. It is said of the venerable Bede, that "he never knew what it was to do nothing, and always found it sweet to be either learning, teaching, or writing." "Not negligent" in labour; diligent not only in the more public duties, but never cease your labour, your care and diligence:" be willing to spend and be spent in the self-denying, self-forgetting, self-devoting work by which your people may be "your hope, your joy, your crown of rejoicing in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ at his coming.' ." "Not negligent" in conduct, but watchful; as, to "compass the doing so mighty a work," it is necessary that not only "doctrine and exhortation be taken out of the holy scripures," but the "life agreeable to the same": be "one that ruleth well his own house," framing the manners of both yourselves and them.... according to the same scripture:" "take heed unto thyself;" "in all things showing thyself a pattern of good works," with sound speech that cannot be condemned."

In conclusion, my reverend brethren, I have sketched the office of the Christian ministry, as it appears to me from our bible and our prayer-book; such, as it seems to me, are the duties we ourselves profess, in taking upon us this holy office, to wish to perform; such, the practice to which we desire to be conformed. But I feel and mourn with deep humiliation my infinite short-comings, inability, and inefficiency, and am ready to cry out, under the crushing weight and unutterable responsibility, "Who is sufficient for these things?" "Who is sufficient for these things?" No man in himself. As our prayerbook says, he has neither will nor ability. Yet have we seen some rising to the emergency; having grace not only to form the good desire, but ability to bring the same to good effect. Christ hath said: "My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." That they have found; and the grace which is sufficient for others will be equally effectual in us who have need, if sought. Then shall we be able to say: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me;" for "God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that you may always have all sufficiency in all things." If we cou'd feel “we have need of nothing," we might slight "the word of exhortation" we have from God and our church; It may not be out of place, before con- but, when we have a pervading sense of the cluding, to address a word to the lay portion weighty office to which we are called, it is of this assembly. St. Paul says: "Obey this very diligence and prayer that we need them that have the rule over you, and sub- to qualify us as faithful and successful pastors, mit yourselves; for they watch for your souls" who shall feed the flock of God which he as they that must give account." The pastor is in a position of awful responsibility, and may often have reasons for his plans with which you may be unacquainted. You can little know the deep anxieties, trials, and

66

66

66

hath purchased with his own blood." May God pour down this spirit of diligence and prayer on you, and me, and all the ministers of our beloved church; that we may, as watchmen, warn of danger; as shepherds,

which are common to both. The Greek, there-
fore, who was waiting to take his place, grew
impatient, and took the liberty of pushing him
over; on which
a battle-royal ensued, and
some heads were broken. On the news arriving
in Jerusalem, the Latin patriarch wrote a note to
his brother of the Greeks, expressing his earnest
hope that the untoward event would not interrupt
their new-born friendship; but, true to the "John
Tuam" style of bold assumption, while he ad-
dressed his note Al illustrissimo Patriarcho di
Grecia, he signed himself Patriarcho di Gerusa-
lemme-a title to which he could assume no pre-
tension, but one which his brother has inherited
from a very long line of ecclesiastical ancestors.
The Greek, it is said, is much moved; but, as
yet, he says nothing. The more I think of it, the
more I feel convinced there is a plot in agitation;
and a circumstance which has transpired since con-
firms me in it. We have had a miracle-and among
the heretics; and still the orthodox Latin and the
schismatic Greek have gone hand in hand to coun-
tenance it. On the Monday after Easter there
was a splendid service in the chapel of the Arme-
nian convent: immediately after which the pil-
grims began to depart. I attended the service,
and feel rather hurt, after taking the trouble of
rising at five in the morning, and sitting for two
mortal hours in a cloud of incense, enough to have
suffocated a toad, that the patriarch had not the
civility to warn me of what was to follow. But
so it was. Well, the service-the most gorgeous
ceremony I ever witnessed-was ended: the pa-
triarch had retired: the thirteen bishops had got
rid of their embroidered robes and jewelled mitres ;
the twelve deacons-each of whom wore a crown
of pearls, emeralds, rubies, &c., each fit for the queen
of England had retired, and all the lights had been
carefully extinguished, when lo! suddenly three
candles on the high altar were suddenly seen to
blaze forth with a miraculous light, communicated
by no touch of earthly fire. No; it was some
supernatural spark. All crowded in haste into
the chapel, messengers were sent to recall such of
the pilgrims as had departed, that the happy
event might be heralded throughout all the distant
and widely-scattered regions whence they had
come; so that none might be left in ignorance of
this divine attestation to the purity and beauty of
the church of the Armenian. All this is strange,
but I think significant: nor would it be difficult
to point out a fourth party, of whom all these gen-
tlemen are mutually afraid, or to conceive a reason
for this hollow peace, which, like Herod and
Pontius Pilate, they have patched up. Our "holy What powers within his soul are now unfurl'd!

We have had a sad proof of the vexatious nature of the "law's delay" in not getting our new church consecrated on the 19th of April, as the bishop had wished. It was found impossible to get the necessary documents prepared in time; indeed, they are not yet arrived. Numerous travellers had made their arrangements to be in Jerusalem to witness the important and interesting ceremony-interesting indeed-the consecration of the first Christian church which has been erected here for I don't know how many centuries; certainly the first protestant church, though that characteristic is rather a melancholy one. It is melancholy that the world should ever so have gone wandering after the beast in all forms of idolatry and error, as to have rendered it necessary that the word protest should ever have been employed in the church. Our chapel, on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, was crowded; but our new church, now completed, we could not avail ourselves of. It is a simple, unpretending building: a critical eye may detect some architectural defects; but, now that the fittings are put in, the tout ensemble is pleasing; and it is delightful to turn from the over-ornamented, gilded, and glittering edifices for worship around, to the simplicity and decency of our own. I will not now enter on any new subject. I trust, in an early letter, to lead you to Bethlehema place of deep interest to a Christian. In the mean time believe me,

mother" is any thing rather than asleep at present: a nuncio is sent to Constantinople, and we are assured is come from thence to bless us here. Nay, we have even had a report that the holy father himself has abdicated his temporal power, and is about to make a pilgrimage to the holy city. I cannot, I confess, believe this as yet. That he, or some successor of his, will visit Palestine, I have no doubt; but I do not think the time is as yet come. In the mean time, however, the on dit has spread consternation, we are assured, in the Latin convent, where, if all tales be true, they are little in a condition to stand the scrutiny of the infallible eyes of the head of the Christian world.

My dear sir,
Very sincerely yours,

Jerusalem, April 26, 1848.

Poetry.

SONNETS.

No. XVII.

W. D. VEITCH.

(For the Church of England Magazine.)

THE GLORIOUS TRANSITION.

How vast the change the Christian undergoes,
When taken hence! Beyond yon star-paved floor
(The golden sand of the celestial shore),
Rapidly borne, how much at once he knows!
Eternity its light around him throws,

And lo, he stands his Saviour-God before,
To see, admire, love, worship, and adore,
While hosts of radiant beings him enclose.

What floods of happiness his soul dilate!
As if a babe had sprung to man's estate,
Or a small stone expanded to a world;
And there he is for ever: O, how great
A height for those whom sin so low had hurl'd!
J. D. H.

London: Published for the Proprietors, by EDWARDS and HUGHES, 12, Ave-Maria Lane, St. Paul's; and to be procured, by order, of all Booksellers in Town and Country.

PRINTED BY JOSEPH ROGERSON,
24, NORFOLK-STREET, STRAND, LONDON.