"more than conquerors through him that loved us and gave himself for us ;" and that there is no pain, no fear, no suffering, no trial, however great, which may not be lessened or overcome by faith in God," who giveth us the victory through Jesus Christ?" Suitable is the observation of Bishop Hooper, "Wherefore it is my belief, that which sufficed them, sufficeth us; and the faith which saved them in Christ, saveth us; except God be changed, and hath made new ways to heaven since their death."

Take courage, O ye of little faith! and whether sick, infirm, or aged, contemplate, we beseech you, this additional cloud of witnesses presented by our own beloved Church', for these are the firstfruits of her dead; and let us feel assured on their united testimony, that in the last great conflict with the King of Terrors, the Holy Spirit has, in these latter ages also, alleviated the pangs of the children of God, changed their sorrows into joy of heart, and their mournful themes into songs

7 We never can more sensibly, more gratefully, feel the privilege of being members of the Church of England, than when we contemplate this her glorious cloud of witnesses. These are her firstfruits of the dead, and we may be assured that the stock which produced them, has been planted and nurtured by a Divine hand. In this, as in other cases, we shall do right to judge of the tree by its fruits.

of holy triumph. If such have been the salutary effects in those instances adduced, why may they not be so in yours, especially when you receive the assurance, "I am the Lord, I change not";" and when you see that Jesus Christ is declared in Holy Scripture to be "the same, yesterday, today, and for ever"?"

Other benefits may be derived from contemplating this cloud of witnesses presented by our Church, and they are so well summed up by the judicious Richard Hooker, that we cannot do better than conclude with his words. In his sermon on "A remedy against Sorrow and Fear" he thus writes. "The death of the saints of God is precious in his sight; and shall it seem unto us superfluous, at such times as these are, to hear in what manner they have ended their lives? The Lord Himself hath not disdained so exactly to register in the Book of Life after what sort his servants have closed up their days on earth, that He descendeth even to their meanest (i. e. lowliest) actions, what they have spoken unto their children, kinsfolk, and friends; the setting of their eyes, their cries, their groans, their pantings, breathings, and last gaspings, He hath most solemnly commended unto the memory of all generations. The care of

8 Mal. iii. 6.

9 Heb. xiii. 8..

the living both to live and die well, must needs be somewhat increased when they know that their departure shall not be folded up in silence, but the ears of many be made acquainted with it. Again, when they hear how mercifully God has dealt with others in the hour of their last need, besides the praise which they give to God, and the joy which they have, or should have, by reason of their fellowship and communion of saints, is not their hope also much confirmed against the day of their own dissolution? Finally, the sound of these things doth not so pass the ears of them that are most loose and dissolute of life, but it causeth them, some time or other, to wish in their hearts, Oh, that we might die the death of the righteous, and that our end might be like his!"

He was Professor of Theology in Oxford, and Rector of Lutterworth in Leicestershire; but most generally known as "The Morning Star of the Reformation." The last period of his life he spent at Lutterworth. A portion of each morning, it is said, he regularly devoted to the relief of the necessitous, to the consolation of the afflicted, and to the discharge of every pious office, by the bed of sickness and death. Every thing which is actually [685]

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