our weakness is great: 'the corruptible body,' as the wise man says, 'presses down the soul;' and I suppose it is the case with all of us occasionally, and even when we would most earnestly deplore and strive against it, that our thoughts are apt to wander and our devotions to be cold. Whenever, therefore, I have found myself disposed to be weary of God's house and service, or have heard others complaining of the tediousness of the Prayers and Lessons, I have said to myself,-if David, the Prince of Penitents, were here now, would he speak or think thus, he who desired to abide in God's tabernacle for ever-who envied (as it were) the sparrows and the swallows their continual abode under the sacred roof-who, when shut out, or far away, longed, yea, even fainted for the courts of the LORD, as a hart thirsting for the water-brooks! If holy Daniel, that greatest of statesmen, that real man of business;' if he were among us now-he who in a far distant land, and prime minister to the greatest of earthly kings, would yet let no day pass in which he would not thrice find or make leisure to offer solemn prayers to the God of his fathers, his windows being open in his chamber towards Jerusalem, where lay the temple of his God in ruins; that as he could not be there in person, he would be so in heart and mind, would he say that our Church Service is too long? If St. Paul, that most heroic, and (if there were such a word,) that most unselfish of men,-if he were now among us, would he be weary of our Lessons, Prayers, and Creeds,-he whose conversation and home was in heaven-who desired to depart and to be with CHRIST, and who calls on all true Christians to hold fast the form of sound words,' in Christian faith and love! Or the beloved John, the last and greatest of prophets,-weary, not of his LORD'S service, but of being kept so long from his presence-would he, and all the other holy men of every age, prophets, apostles, martyrs, confessors, and saints, whether of the Patriarchal, Jewish, or Christian Churches, would they complain of our Services being TOO LONG ?

"O no, Sir, that is not to be imagined. So neither ought we to complain, heirs with them of the same promises, and looking to meet them hereafter in our one great eternal Home."

"Richard," I replied, " you say true. As it is dangerous for an individual to take for his guidance any but a perfect pattern of Christian conduct, so is it dangerous for the Church to follow any but a perfect model of Christian worship, so far as perfection can be obtained. Her rules should be framed, not according to what people are, but what they ought to be otherwise you must plainly see that a door will be at once opened for numberless errors as well in doctrine as in practice."

"Yes, Sir, I see it," he replied.

"And therefore it seems to

me, that when on such subjects popular opinion runs vehemently in a wrong direction, (or if not wrong, at least questionable,) that then it is not the best time, but the very worst possible, for yielding to its fancies. So that even if it should be at any time necessary or expedient (which I cannot think it ever will be) to shorten the Church Services, yet then is the very worst of all times to set about it, when there is the greatest demand for it."

"You are quite right," I said, "beyond all doubt. But I think it would be a great support to the good cause, that is, to the cause of GOD, and truth, the Church and the Prayerbook; and also a great encouragement to such amongst us of the clergy as desire to stand in the old paths; if in every parish a few serious thinking persons would consider of drawing up and signing a solemn address to their respective Bishops, plainly saying that they utterly disapprove of all plans whatever for shortening the Church Service, unless some urgent cause should arise, stronger than they have ever yet heard; and that as churchmen they never can or will consent to any such plans of miscalled Church reform. For you know, Richard, laymen are quite as much part of THE CHURCH as the clergy; and it is your right and duty to stand up in its defence, as much as it is ours."

"Sir," he replied, "you may be sure I would gladly sign such a declaration as this you propose, and I think I know four or five more who would sign it also with all their hearts."

"That will be sufficient," I said, "for our parish, for no doubt the Bishops will estimate the value of such addresses, not by the quantity, but by the quality of those who sign them—not by the

number of names, but by the worth of those who bear them, their honesty, piety, and truth."

So we agreed that an address of this kind should be prepared, and kept ready to be presented to the Bishop whenever circumstances should seem to require.

Not of course that we were so vain as to expect that our exertions could be of much avail; but still, as Richard said, "We cannot stand by and see the noble old Prayer-book pulled to pieces, just to humour a mob of Tiptops, Gapes, and Yawns."

OXFORD,

The Feast of St. Matthew, 1834.

[FIFTH EDITION.]

These Tracts are continued in numbers, and sold at the price of 2d. for each sheet, or 7s. for 50 copies.

LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. G. F. & J. RIVINGTON,

ST PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, AND WATERLOO PLACE.

1840.

GILBERT & RIVINGTON, Printers, St. John's Square, London.

TRACTS FOR THE TIMES.

BISHOP WILSON'S MEDITATIONS ON HIS SACRED OFFICE.

No. 2.-MONDAY.

Question from the Office of Consecration.—ARE YOU persuaded THAT THE HOLY SCRIPTURES CONTAIN SUFFICIENTLY ALL DOCTRINE REQUIRED OF NECESSITY TO ETERNAL SALVATION THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST? AND ARE YOU DETERMINED, OUT OF THE SAME HOLY SCRIPTURES, TO INSTRUCT THE PEOPLE сом

MITTED TO YOUR CHARGE, AND TO TEACH OR MAINTAIN NOTHING AS REQUIRED OF NECESSITY TO ETERNAL SALVATION, BUT THAT WHICH YOU SHALL BE PERSUADED MAY BE CONCLUDED AND PROVED

BY THE SAME?-Ans. I AM SO PERSUADED AND DETERMINED BY GOD'S GRACE.

Question.-WILL YOU THEN FAITHFULLY EXERCISE YOURself IN THE SAME HOLY SCRIPTURes, and call uPON GOD BY PRAYER FOR THE TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF THE SAME; SO AS YOU MAY BE ABLE BY THEM TO TEACH AND EXHORT WITH WHOLESOME DOCTRINE, AND TO WITHSTAND AND CONVINCE GAINSAYERS ?Ans.-I WILL DO SO BY THE HELP OF GOD.

O GOD, the fountain of all wisdom, enlighten my mind, that I myself may see, and be able to teach others, the wonders of Thy law; that I may learn from Thee, what I ought to think and speak concerning Thee; and that whatever in Thy Holy Word I shall profitably learn, I may in deed fulfil the same. Direct and bless all my labours. Give me a discerning spirit, a sound judgment, and an honest and a religious heart, that in all my studies my first aim may be to set forth Thy glory, by setting forward the salvation of men. And if, by my ministry, Thy kingdom shall be enlarged, let me, in all humility, ascribe the success, not unto myself, but unto Thy Good SPIRIT, which enables

VOL. I.-44.

us both to will and to do what is acceptable to Thee, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen.

Acts vi. 4. "But we will give ourselves continually unto prayer, and to the ministry of the word."

Luke vi. 39. "Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch ?"

1 Tim. iv. 13.

"Give attendance to reading, to exhortation,

To read, in
But to read,

to doctrine." Quesnelle says, Not to read, is to tempt God; to do nothing but study, is to forget the ministry. order to appear more learned, is a sinful vanity. in order to exhort, and to instruct with wholesome doctrine, this is according to God's will and word.

James i. 5." If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to every man liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him," Wisdom being the gift of God, and this gift the fruit of prayer, a prayer that is humble, earnest, and persevering, will assuredly be blessed with this excellent gift. O JESUS, cause me to read, to understand, to love, to practise, and to preach Thy Word.

John vii. 17. "If any man will do (that is, is disposed, desires to do) His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of GOD, or whether I speak of myself." Light and truth discover themselves to such as desire to follow them.

Ps. xxv. 14. "The secret of the LORD is among them that fear Him, and He will show them His covenant." It was the saying of a learned man, saith Dr. Lightfoot, that he got more knowledge by his prayers than by all his studies.

Matth. xi. 25. "I thank Thee, O FATHER, LORD of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." My God and SAVIOUR, imprint on my heart the amiable characters of simplicity and humility, which are the marks of Thy elect, of such to whom Thou wilt reveal Thyself. It is a dangerous mistake to think that any man can have a right understanding of divine things, without being illuminated by divine grace, and without leading an holy life.

Ps. cxix. 19. "I have more understanding than my teachers,