tofd, that before his death, he laid his hands on his Apostles, and appointed them to preach and baptize in his name. We know that these Apostles appointed others; and even to this day, every man who is to speak in the name of Christ, and to administer his sacraments, ought to be lawfully 'ordained by the Bishops of Christ's Church. These are the shepherds whom Christ has commanded to feed his flock; and no man ought to take this honour on himself. All clergymen, before they are allowed to exercise this holy office, are instructed in the religion which God has revealed; and care is taken that they should be properly qualified to teach others. They are the lawful ministers of Christ; the sacraments, which they administer, are given by his authority; the prayers, which they read, are the appointed service of the Church; and the humble Christian, who joins with them in worship, does his duty, and has every reason to hope for all the benefits promised by our Saviour to his Church. Even if the clergyman should not read or preach as well as we could wish, we ought charitably to excuse his defects, and never to forget the respect that is due to his office. The most important part of the service is joining in public prayer, and thanksgiving to God, and hearing his word, in the place and the manner which our Church directs, and under the authority of a minister, (who is lawfully qualified to administer the sacraments, which Christ has ordained. If we leave the Church, and are led by idle curiosity, or tempted by the advice and example of others, to listen to those who intrude into another man's fold, we know not into what errors we may be led. We cannot be certain that we shall hear the true doctrines of the Church; we cannot be certain that we shall hear prayers in which we ought to join; and even if the preacher should appear to us to be a good man, and to deliver to us religious instruction---still, if he leads us from the Established Church, and her lawful ministers, he is at best a mistaken man, for we are commanded to listen to those who are appointed to rule over us, and to shun those who make divisions in the Church. All such divisions should be avoided. There is one body,' the Church, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”—Eph. iv. 4. 6 Desirous, as we are, that our Magazine should be a family book, that it should contain instruction for the ignorant, as well as amusement for the learned, we make no apology for inserting the following exract, as the advice it gives is most excellent, and peculiarly appropriate to the present times:-When a set of men, arrogating to themselves the title of "True Churchmen," buoy up their hearers, into presumptuous confidence, by their doc K kk 2 trines trines of arbitrary election, or terrify them into despair by those of unconditional and irrespective reprobation. "Jesus Christ established on himself, and on his Apostles, as on a solid foundation, a Church, and a lawful society of ministers, who were to succeed them from age to age for the instruction of all people; to whom he committed that authority which he had received from God his Father, and on whom he promised to bestow the assistance of his grace, his wisdom and his power, to the final end of all things. And shall we despise this authority---neglect the Church, and the ministers that were appointed by God himself, and run after every preacher that we hear of,---be tossed about by every wind of doctrine ? No, my friends,---let us do better things, and act more worthy of the sacred name of Christ. Let us not follow after those vain teachers, whom the Scripture forewarns us, shall come on the earth and deceive many; but let us constantly attend His lawful Church, where we shall never be told any thing that we may not be the better and the wiser for hearing, if we attend to it as we ought. Let us go with humble and penitent hearts to the Holy Sacrament, whenever we have opportunity, in grateful remembrance of that Saviour who died for our sins, and not for our sins only, but for the sins of the whole world, and who expressly commanded us to eat that bread, and drink that cup, in remembrance of Him, thus openly professing ourselves to be Christians, and never doubting but that He will accept our obedience however imperfect, provided it be sincere---nor fearing that we are unworthy, while we do the best we can, and trust in His merits, and not in our own. Let us add to our faith, good works, without which, we are assured in the Scripture, that faith cannot save us. Trust me, my brethren, we shall never go to Heaven, unless we strive to fulfil the will of God, by leading an honest, virtuous, charitable, and pious life upon earth. All our sighings and groanings will not avail us, if we do not do good as well as talk about it. But every Christian has the . comfortable hope, that he shall be saved, if he follows God's commands to the utmost of his power. He has predestined no one to be lost, unless it be his own fault---for He desireth not the death of the wicked; neither has He ordained any man to be: saved, that has not worked out his own salvation by a virtuous life. Let us then strive, as much as possible, to lead this virtuous life---let us live peaceably with all men--let us respect our superiors, reverence the laws---love our brethren, fear our God, and honour our King, and we need not doubt being in the safest road to ensure our happiness in this world, and, what is of much more consequence, that salvation in the next, which is purchased for us by the merits of our merciful Redeemer." POETRY. S POETRY. THE CRUSADES. BY MR. JOHN MITFORD, OF ORIEL COLLEGE, OXFORD. (Taken from the Poetical Register for 1802.) (Concluded from page 364.) ONS of Ambition, how your crest is fallen! ---Oh, they are satiate! they have gorg'd their food, Genius of chivalry! from thee arose The first faint dawn of freedom: from thy hall, The The shelter'd hamlet, and the fading scene "Arrest your sword! men of revenge and war, "Who bid the purple sword of slaughter smoke Bend the low knee; soldier and prince and slave And o'er the captive battlements unfurl'd The Christian banner stream'd. 'Twas a proud day 1 Where Where bled their Saviour; o'er his long-sought tomb The loud shout;---floats there not a wave, but bears Now was the time accomplish'd, now was come Meanwhile no glimmering light, no doubtful beam Wave loose her robe of green. The native tore And |