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.

[NEW EDITION.]

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

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

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, AND WATERLOO PLACE.

1838.

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 COMMITTED 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.

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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."

"Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not

Luke vi. 39. both fall into the ditch ?"

1 Tim. iv. 13.

"Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine." Quesnelle says, Not to read, is to tempt GoD; to do nothing but study, is to forget the ministry. To read, in order to appear more learned, is a sinful vanity. But to read, 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 shew 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, because I keep Thy commandments." There is a light arising

'from a sincere good life, which dispellethall darkness, and is the best defence against error and sophistry.

Ps. xxv. 10. "All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His Testimonies." That is; to such as do so, all the ways of GOD, and whatever He hath revealed, will appear to be the effect of infinite wisdom, goodness, justice, and truth. He giveth light and understanding unto the simple.

Matt. v. 8.

GOD."

Luke xxii. 32.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see

"When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." GOD grant that we may all of us consider the absurdity of going about to convert others, without being converted ourselves. To understand the Holy Scriptures aright, is to understand them as the Primitive Church did.

1 Sam. iii. 9. "Speak, LORD, for Thy servant heareth." Speak to my heart, that I may obey Thy word. "Teach me to do Thy will, for thou art my GoD." It belongs to God, to give the true understanding of His own word.

Matt. vii. 5. "Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." That is, purify your own heart from all worldly aims; mortify your own passions, which are the cause of your blindness; study that Word which alone can enlighten you; and lay aside all prejudices which are contrary to piety. A Pastor should never undertake to teach a virtue which he has never practised himself.

Luke v. 5. "We have toiled all the night, and taken nothing." So does every preacher, who does not beg God's blessing upon his labours. It is impossible for any man to teach well, who does not live well.

"My people perish for want of knowledge." The design of Religion being to lead men to GoD, how he is to be served, appeased, attained; the business of a preacher should be to show how all the parts of religion contribute to these ends. He that reads the Sacred Scriptures, and understands the things concerning the kingdom of GOD, and the way of conducting men thither, need not complain for want of learning. In preaching,

we must speak to the heart, as well as to the understanding and to the ear. The end of preaching is, to turn men from sin unto GOD, that they may be saved. He that has not this in his view will do little good. A preacher should accustom himself to give a practical turn to every thing. He that leaves it to his hearers to apply what he has said, leaves to them the greatest part of his own duty. To be heartily in love with the truth one recommends, is the great secret of becoming a good preacher.

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John vii. 16. My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me." To preach our own thoughts, forsaking God's word, is like an ambassador, who neglects his prince's instructions, and follows his own fancy. With what truth can it be said, that "the sheep hear his voice," when the shepherd speaks of things, or in such a manner, as is above their capacity? Grant, O LORD, that may read thy word with the same spirit with which it was written. Learning does not always lead men to God; it often carries them from him. Indeed, when they study to find out, and correct their own weakness, their folly, and the corruption of their nature; to be convinced of the evil of sin, of the vanity of the world; to fill their souls with heavenly wisdom and devout affections towards GOD; and all this, that they may be better able to convince and edify their neighbour; such learning leads men indeed to GOD:-the rest is folly. Have mercy upon all that sit in darkness; and may the saving truths of the Gospel be received in all the world! He that sets his heart upon the world, is not in a capacity of understanding the Gospel. Give me that true wisdom which consists in knowing how to save myself and them that hear me. Remember, that a man may have the knowledge of

the Word, without the Spirit.

Obscurity of the Scriptures

Serves to subdue the pride of man; to convince us, that to understand them, we have need of a light superior to reason, and that we may apply to God for help. May I ever understand the true language of thy Word, O LORD, and profit by it! Vouchsafe, O GOD, to give me a love for thy Sacred Scriptures, and a true understanding of them, that I may see therein the wonders of thy conduct, and thy love for us, thy miserable creatures.