character of a good King, than can be found in any other age or realm." "The memory of the just is blessed." And now a thousand years have rolled by since the " Coming of the Dane!" was a cry of terror to England. A thousand years! and now, the "Coming of the Dane" is to England of the nineteenth century a sound of joy and gladness, and of golden promise. The Danish Raven of the stormy ninth century, a bird of evil omen, brooded over our shores with havoc and ruin on her wings; SHE whom Denmark sends forth in this nineteenth century to the conquest of England is the gentle harbinger of Love and Peace. And her conquest is complete. She has invaded and has taken captive the inmost heart of Old England: she has been greeted so as no Royal Bride was ever before welcomed to her future country. None can look, as we in Oxford have so lately looked, into that sweet and speaking countenance; none can have witnessed the gentle captivating grace, of ALEXANDRA, without feeling that there is the pledge of consolation to England's widowed Queen, of untold happiness to England's Heir, of virtuous example to England's Matrouage, of loving and maternal care for all classes in this land of her adoption. Therefore England, from her busy heart of London, from the wildest and most desolate of her shores, cries with one voice 46 Welcome to Alexandra of Denmark.” F. M. H. Meditative Sonnet on Dubufe's Picture of “The Fall." First tempted, and first tempter of thy lord, How could'st thou thy great weight of woe endure H. B. IS THE BIBLE SUFFICIENTLY STUDIED AND UNDERSTOOD BY THE PEOPLE? In these days, when of “making many books there is no end," it occurs to me that there is one important question that many readers of books and magazines and newspapers might profitably ask themselves: it is, how much they know of that Book of books out of which they will all be finally examined for their future state. It is the one book in which all are instructed, or have the opportunity of being so; it is taught in schools to classes in an elementary way, and in Churches to congregations in every way, from the simplest to the most erudite way, and taught there not for a few years only, as in schools, but all the years of every one's life. Now the question I propose is this: What is done by people themselves to make this teaching profitable to them, and to "go on unto perfection" in acquaintance with the contents of Holy Scripture, and with their orthodox meaning? Do they eagerly embrace every opportunity of hearing it read and expounded in their Parish or District Church, and do they pay attention to it thus publicly taught? Do they never willingly stay away? Do they note down at home, and ponder over, what they have thus learnt in public? Do they pursue the daily private study of God's word, with prayer for Divine guidance? Do they go to their Pastor and consult him when they meet with difficulties in the study of it? And thus, as they advance in years, and annually approach nearer to the great Final Examination, are they growing in a knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom and of the things which belong to their peace ? And here indeed it may be asked, What are those things? Shall any one venture to exclude any portion of the sacred Volume, whether treating of things to be believed or of things to be done? Now if you take any Parish whatever in town or country, and enquire what is the average acquaintance with the history of the Old Testament, and the books of prophecy, and the doctrines of the New Testament, including the various important principles of conduct for practical life contained in the Epistles; if you ascertain how many per cent. can prove from Scripture thai the tenets of the Catholic Church, and therefore of the Church of England, are right, and that the distinctive tenets of the different sects and denominations are wrong; I will venture still more and say, if you discover how many can tell at once off-hand what are the principal events related in the Bible, or can answer correctly most of the simple elementary questions daily asked in parish schools, it will, I am sure, appear too manifestly that the average degree of information is extremely low. On due enquiry I am convinced it will not be found at all an unjust conclusion, but it will be freely admitted, that the great majority of people in the parishes of this country are far from acting up to their profession,-I might almost say, their boasting in this matter. For indeed they boast themselves to be Protestants, a term which popularly implies the right of every man to read the Bible for himself, or have it read to him; and they pride themselves on not being members of the Church of Rome, which denies that right to the laity. Many, moreover, go so far as to dispute the right of any Priesthood and Ministry to instruct them, deeming it to be an interference with their own private judgment and interpretation, resisting their authority which Christ has given them, and calling it Priestcraft. I think, however, that a strict investigation will shew of the majority of the Reformed and restored Church of this country, that their ignorance of Holy Scripture is not to be denied as a false imputation, but to be deplored as a patent and in many cases an amazing fact. And thus, while we as a national Church are undertaking (and it is our bounden duty) to enlighten heathen nations with a knowledge of God's Word, and vaunting ourselves on the free circulation of millions of copies of it abroad as well as at home, we are compelled to confess that a most lamentable want of that knowledge prevails in our own Christian Parishes. It is too It needs but little penetration to discover the cause. obvious that the Bible is not valued now as it used to be. People now do not think so much of acquaintance with it, as they did in days when the Book itself was scarce, and opportunities of reading or hearing it rare. It seems to be less prized, and a knowledge of it less cared for, in proportion to the abundance of copies supplied, and of expositions given. It is not now the fashion to be well informed in Holy Scripture; by many in the upper classes it is even thought to be vulgar; by many in both the upper and the middle classes it is considered less important than to be advanced in secular accom plishments, or to be acquainted with the latest modes, or with the most favourite novels, or with the news of the day, or with the gossip of the neighbourhood. And the importance of knowing the Bible cannot be felt in a state of society which attaches no disgrace to ignorance of it, and ascribes so much greater momentousness to other things: for in the opinion of the majority the highest demands are those of society or of the world. Shame can be felt at ignorance of other books and other subjects, but ignorance of Scripture can be avowed without a blush. Thus it is that the early teaching of school is forgotten, and the constantly continued higher teaching of the Church is thrown away. When school is left, education in Scripture is supposed to be finished; and young men and women, because they are then old enough to carry on their own improvement for themselves, and because society does not demand any further knowledge of it from them, take it for granted that no further improvement is required. The Church may be deserted, or it may be attended when quite convenient, and then how generally for form's sake more than from a desire to hear meekly God's holy word, to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit!" With the above description, which is really far from over-drawn, let us compare the following which is given of former times by Mr. Le Bas in his life of Abp. Cranmer. (Vol. i. p. 170. Theolog. Library.) "It is perhaps scarcely possible for us to imagine the eagerness with which the people availed themselves of the liberty thus offered them, by the repeated declarations of the king, to consult the sacred Volume for themselves. Every one that could, purchased the Book, and if he was unable to read it himself he got his neighbour to read it to him. Numbers might be seen flocking to the lower end of the Church, and forming a little congregation round the Scripture Reader. Many persons far advanced in life actually learnt to read for the express purpose of searching the oracles of God; and one instance has been recorded of a poor boy only fifteen years of age, who voluntarily incurred the same toil, and then joined his stock with a brother apprentice for the purchase of a New Testament, which he concealed under the bed straw, and perused at stolen moments, undismayed by the reproaches of his mother and the brutal violence of his father." This was in the year 1538. Why is not the same eagerness of spirit evinced by all classes now? The fact is, that no proper advancement can be made in sacred knowledge unless it be not only regarded as an imperative duty, but FFF felt as a real pleasure. And if the Bible is our guide-book for a glorious immortality, what pleasure is there in the world that should be compared with the delight of studying it? Look at the lively interest with which guide-books for our earthly travelling are searched, and what pains are taken to follow their directions, so that the desired place may be duly reached, and every object in the way have due attention. Whosoever hopes to arrive at that "better country, even a heavenly," which is in prospect for God's faithful children, must distinctly understand that there is no sure ground for such hope, unless he feels that he is here a stranger and pilgrim journeying towards it, and unless he seeks and strives in every possible way, and with eager enquiry and cordial pleasure and fixed attention, to be thoroughly acquainted with that Book of directions put forth by the highest Authority, which alone can guide along the narrow path to that world of heavenly bliss and glory. Gathered Flowers. CURATE. Sunny Flowers! children frail Though ye, mid the lamp's red glare, Though ye, 'mid the crowded throng, So, though far from all we love, H. B. |