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therefore, on who were the ministry of the day. Then, how prominently would schism and religious division be brought before the children of every school! Such a schooling in schism and separation would too probably cherish bewilderment and scepticism, and predispose to infidelity.

Then how would it interfere with the parochial system?

Our fears are uppermost, even if no further concessions are made through a recognition of the claims of Dissenters. But, if that be the case, we are sure that a continuance of parliamentary grants on the now existing system (increased as they ought to be for many years tenfold,) would more rapidly, more peaceably, and more surely, provide for the universal

spread of education, than the proposed scheme, even if it were to become law as it is. There should be a school provided in every parish and township, and salaries made up to the masters; but w fear this cannot be done on any united system. Churchmen and Dissenters have not found it very easy to unite in other matters; nor, if they were disposed to try the experiment (and it is the Dissenters who are now protesting,) do you think that you can bring into a religious union (as we should understand the term religious,) Roman Catholics, Unitarians, Socialists, Mormonists, &c.? It is a fearful question; and must deeply interest every friend of the Church, of religion, order, and civilization.

NOTICES TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS.

WANT of room causes the two beautiful perpendicular FONTS to be unaccompanied with an article on that somewhat curious and interesting department of ecclesiology. The Fonts, however, will perhaps sufficiently introduce themselves; and our article may come in more usefully in attendance upon some specimens of their more venerable Norman and early English predecessors. Very many other articles of our own, and from valued contributors, are unavoidably postponed.

We should on every account rejoice, if we dare entertain the prospect of gratifying E. R. C. and Car. Sarah: but nothing less that twice as many regular subscribers as the Magazine has had during the years 1842 and 1843, would enable us to attempt it. We shall be glad to comply with W. D's request as soon as we can. A list of the Fathers would be useful to many, but we have not space for every thing at once. Cave and Dupin are accessible in English; and we strongly recommend Rev. R. Evans's Biography of the Early Church. Mr. Cary has recently edited Cave. There are numerous Latin works; that of Walch in one volume.

We have referred to the four editions of Fabyan's Chronicle, and find J. Y, correct. Can he tell us more, or refer us to works where the history of such mutilations is given. We wish we could have inserted his letter; but many readers much desired the continuance of the "Cabinet," and we have always regretted to omit it.

We cannot give X. any authority for using the Ash-Wednesday Collect on Sundays in Lent. We never thought of omitting it but it certainly ought to be used on Good Friday and Easter Eve, for they are certainly in Lent.

We can give L. no information as yet as to the Prayers for Healing used at the Sovereign's touching for the King's evil. We will lay the letter before our readers. We believe we do not much, if at all, differ from Mr. S. But we will write, when we have leisure, to him, J. B. W., and others.

We fear J. W. M.'s paper is too long, and would hardly suit at present. Will he give us his name in confidence? We should be glad to write to our Aberdeen friend. The letter from Huntingdon we have mislaid, to our great regret under the circumstances. Received, " M.," "N. T. P.," and "Fidus."

Volumes and covers for the last year are with our publisher, Mr. Bell.

London. Printed by G. Lilley, 3, Queen's Head Passage, Paternoster Row.

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THE CHURCH

MAGAZINE.

No. 53.]

MAY, 1843.

[VOL. V.

That which is of God we defend to the uttermost of that which he has given; that which is otherwise, let it wither even in the root from whence it sprung.Hooker.

The priest must be capable to instruct with advantage, and the people disposed to learn with readiness; he must lead, and they must cheerfully follow in the paths of righteousness.-Barrow.

I have been long of this mind, that many in their sermons and writings are to blame, for their manner of dealing with the adversaries of their opinions, when they give reins to their tongues and pens, to railing and reproachful speeches; and think they have done well, when they exceed or equal them in this trade, wherein to have the better is indeed to be worse. And this is my poor opinion concerning our dealing with the papists themselves. Sure I am, the rule of the apostle is plain, even of such as are the slaves of Satan, that we must with lenity instruct them; waiting, that when escaped out of his snare, they should recover a sound mind to do God's will. Finally, he that in matters of controversy shall bring meekness to his defence, undoubtedly he shall overcome in the manner of handling; and if he bring truth also, he shall prevail at last in the matter.-Bishop Bedell.

MEMOIR OF BISHOP BEDELL.
(Concluded from p. 150.)

"The whole history of the church of Christ does not in all probability contain a more perfect pattern of a Christian bishop, than may be contemplated in the life of Bishop Bedell, as to the care with which he supplied all vacancies within his diocese; the strictness with which he conducted his examinations for holy orders; his constant refusal to ordain any without a title to a particular flock: his studious observation of the behaviour of his clergy, mixed with paternal tenderness and compassion for their weaknesses; his earnest endeavours in counteracting pluralities, and in prevailing upon all to observe parochial residence; and his constant business at his visitations in investigating the state of his diocese, and in giving good instructions and advice both to the clergy and laity."

Such is the testimony of Bishop Mant in his recently published History of the Church of Ireland (p. 441). And it would be easy, did our space allow, to illustrate it in a great variety of particulars. In our last number, we related the elevation of Dr. Bedell from the provostship of Trinity College, Dublin, to the united sees of Kilmore and Ardagh, to which he was consecrated in September, 1629. Perhaps no prelate ever entered upon a see more unfavourably circumstanced, at a period when the whole Church of Ireland was suffering not only from that prevalence of popery, which in after

R

years produced the great massacre of 1641, but also from the great disorders which times of continued confusion has introduced. The Irish convocation, in the year 1635, stated to Charles I., "that in the whole christian world, the rural clergy have not been reduced to such extreme contempt and beggary as in your highness's kingdom, by the means of so frequent appropriations, commendams, and violent intrusions into their undoubted rights, in times of confusion; having their churches ruined, their habitations reft and desolate, their glebes concealed, and by inevitable consequence and invincible necessity of a general non-residency imposed upon them." Several of the sees were reduced below £50 a year, and many vicarages to considerably less than 40 shillings. It appears that only 14 churches in Bedell's diocese were in repair, and 55 others ruinous or dilapidated; 20 incumbents out of 64 were non-resident; several of the cures were served by the same ministers, and some not at all for want of means; and only 13 parsonage houses were fit for residence. The bishop's predecessor Moigne had granted long leases for a large fine, at a small reserved rent, so that Bedell had recourse to legal process to procure any adequate provision for either Kilmore or Ardagh.

Being determined, however, to abolish pluralities, he himself set the example by resigning the see of Ardagh, in which Dr. Richardson succeeded him. He was enabled to effect a very great improvement, and from the force of his arguments, authority, and example, encountered no opposition from any of the clergy, except from Dr. Bernard, dean of Kilmore, whose resistance he overcame, and Dr. Bernard was glad to remove to the deanery of Ardagh in exchange with Dr. H. Jones, afterwards Bishop of Meath. A great advance was also made in securing residence; and preparation was made for a general provision of residence houses, which only the rebellion of 1641 interrupted. Finding that great abuses and extortion prevailed in the ecclesiastical courts, through the uncontrolled administration of lay chancellors, he presided in them personally, and frustrated the endeavours of the interested parties, by legal process, to prevent his salutary reforms. Very interesting details of these several proceedings are given by Burnett and Mason, which evince the disinterested zeal and firmness of the bishop; who also corrected many abuses in the manner of conducting the episcopal visitations. He very properly protested against the suspension of the episcopal jurisdiction for a whole year by the metropolitan, as then was customary; a few weeks or months being sufficient for the purpose, where regular metropolitical visitations are retained.

Candidates for orders were examined by him in the presence of his clergy, who were invited further to propose any needful questions to the candidates. Having himself, in early life, protested against any unnecessary expenses on such occasions, he wrote out the necessary letters of orders with his own hand, and took especial care that no fees or gratuities should be levied on the clergy by his own attendants.

In 1638, when he had been nine years bishop, he held a synod of all the clergy of his diocese, and passed several canons for the regulation of the church therein. The revival of such diocesan synods, under necessary regulations and restrictions, would undoubtedly provide for many exigencies of the church. But it may be matter of question, how far a single bishop has the power to originate them, and how far it might be expedient to do so. In his revival of the office of rural deans, he had a precedent upon which to go; and

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