thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of

the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." (Rev. iii. 11, 12.)

MUCH has been said of late years as to the non-recognition of the parishclerk in the Book of Common Prayer. In order to ascertain the force of such a statement, it will be necessary to refer to that book. It is quite true that the term parish clerk is not to be found therein, but it is also true that frequent mention is made of clerks, or clerk, in various parts of the services of our Church. For example, at the end of the Suffrages, after the Creed, at Morning and Evening Prayer, these words occur, "Then the Minister, Clerks, and people shall say the Lord's Prayer with a loud voice." In the Marriage Service, it states, "Then shall they again loose their hands; and the man shall give unto the woman a ring, laying the same upon the book with the accustomed duty to the Priest and Clerk, &c." It further states, "Then the Minister or Clerks, going to the Lord's table, shall say or sing this Psalm following."

In the order for the Burial of the Dead, we read-" The Priest and Clerks meeting the corpse at the entrance of the church-yard, &c., shall say or sing;" again, "When they come to the grave, while the corpse is made ready to be laid into the earth, the Priest shall say, or the Priest and Clerks shall sing," &c. In the Commination Service we have the following: "Then shall they all kneel upon their knees, and the Priest and Clerks shall say this Psalm." In the service for the Fifth of November, the preface to the hymn appointed for that day, says, "Instead of Venite exultemus shall this hymn following be used; one verse by the Priest, and another by the Clerk and

people." There is also the same directions in the service for " King Charles the Martyr," ""The Restoration of the Royal Family," and the "Queen's Accession ;" which clearly proves that if Venite be said, it must be in the same manner as the hymn referred to. And as these services were all appointed by the Church, and sanctioned by Acts of Parliament, it seems to me but natural to infer, from the Prayer Book, that the Clerk is there recognized, and has been so from the Reformation of the English Church till within the last few years.

It will now be my humble endeavour to show the use of Parish Clerks in accordance with the 91st Canon of the Church: "That he shall be of twenty years of age at the least, to be of honest conversation, and sufficient for his reading, writing, and also for his competent skill in singing, if it may be." Such are the qualifications required by the Canon, and the inference to be drawn from thence is, that the person so chosen must be a Layman, as no one at that age can be admitted into holy orders.

At the period of the Reformation, our blessed Reformers clearly saw the awful errors into which the Romish Church had fallen, yet did not attempt to form a new Church, but rather to reform the old one. Neither did they totally cast aside the Service Books, but in both instances they removed the bad, and retained and set in order that which was good, and agreeable to God's Word; bearing in mind the apostolic admonition : "Let all things be done decently and in order;" "Hold fast the form of sound words." These holy men, in order to carry out

their wise arrangements, ordered, or sanctioned, the continuance of one clerk to each parish church, whose duty was to assist the minister in the various offices of the church, so that the worship of Almighty God might be conducted in a devout and becoming manner. If he is a truly pious man, and understands his duty, he will, to the best of his endeavour, cultivate a devout frame of mind, making the responses where necessary, following the minister in the general confession of sins to Almighty God in an humble, distinct, and audible tone, thereby inducing the congregation to unite their voices with his in this, and every other part of Divine service, where it is their duty and privilege to join their minister in prayer and praise to the ever blessed Trinity.

But with what propriety could this be done, if there is no leader to guide them? Only let an unprejudiced person visit those churches where the clerk is dispensed with, and, if I am not mistaken, he will soon perceive a great want of harmony, especially if the clergyman, from over exertion in his laborious duties, or from bodily infirmity, has a weak voice. He will also discern the need of a person near the minister, competent to lead the congregation in their devotions, as appointed by the compilers of our Scriptural Liturgy; and not some four or six little, giddy, thoughtless boys, saying Divine service in a singsong tone, without any devotion whatever. But such a novelty and change as this, we trust, will be utterly discountenanced by the rulers of our Church, and strongly opposed by the congregation, wherever such an attempt is made.

I now proceed to consider of what further use parish clerks may be to the Church in its present state; whilst some enquire of what use are they, and others are trying to do away with them altogether, affirming that they are nowhere recognized in the Book of Common Prayer.

In order more fully to show the need of such persons in the present day, let us look at the signs of the times in reference to the rapid increase of dissent, popery, and infidelity.

As to dissent, the question is easily answered, because they publish their doings far and wide.

The Wesleyans, who, I believe, are one of the most influential and flourishing sects, into which Christianity is unhappily divided, have a Conference, superintendents, second and third-class preachers, class leaders, and prayer leaders. Hence we learn from their proceedings, that the prosperity and increasing numbers of their society are the result of combined and well-directed efforts. Other dissenters, seeing the success which has attended this co-operation of preachers and people, have, in many instances, adopted their plans, and thereby met with similar success.

There is a man now living in St. James's Parish, Bristol, who, for several years past, has been in the habit of constantly visiting the neglected village of W in the

,

County of Somerset, as a local preacher. He first procured a room for the use of a small Sunday-school, as well as for the purpose of preaching to any of the villagers who could be induced to attend. In the course of time, sufficient influence was gained, and funds raised to enable the parties concerned to purchase a piece of ground, and build a chapel. The congregation has increased, and continues, to the best of my knowledge, in a flourishing state. All this has been effected entirely through the instrumentality of the individual above alluded to. This plain matter of fact is one instance amongst many that might be adduced; but this will suffice to show the importance of the subject under consideration. These proceedings of the Dissenters are not brought forward for imitation; but at the same time, it is my firm persuasion, that such a class of men as parish clerks, possessing genuine piety, and duly qualified, under the sanction and appointment of the Bishops, if raised one step above a layman, might be of great service to the Church of England in her present state of trial from enemies without, and traitors within her pale. The settlement of this question, however, after all, properly belongs to the clergy, as they are the most compe

tent judges as to what kind of service such an inferior servant of the Church as a parish clerk, may render them in their sacred duties.

But if such an one may be permitted to suggest a few for their consideration, the following appear to me amongst the most necessary :To assist the minister in visiting the sick and the poor, read the Scriptures to them, &c., similar to the plan of the Scripture Readers' Society, recently formed under the sanction of several of our Bishops. In extreme cases, to baptize sick and dying infants, bury the dead, and perform whatever part of the Church offices the bishop, or ordinary, may think proper to sanction.

Each person so employed, should, of course, be well known to the minister as a sincere and humble member of the Church of England,

in every way qualified for the office; and then be presented to the bishop for his sanction, and appointment thereto.

It should, however, be strongly enforced by those in authority, that such clerks adhere strictly to the rules laid down at the time of their appointment, and do not depart from them under any pretence whatever. Should this increase of the duties and responsibilities of the parish clerk ever take place, I think suspension will rarely, if ever occur; and as to final dismissal for misconduct, I would fain hope it will be unknown.

That it may please the gracious Giver of all good to bless these imperfect remarks, which I have presumed to suggest, for the benefit of His Church, is the earnest prayer of His very unworthy servant,

A PARISH CLerk.

FEW are the leaves in yonder bow'r, But trembling flow'rs are there, The glory of the sunset hour

Hath made them passing fair :-
The firstlings of our northern year-
The speedwell, frail and blue,
And primrose stars that glimmer near
Dim with the April dew;

They fail before mine eyes to-day,
For I am wand'ring back
Long ages, on His mournful way,
My suffering Lord to track.

I see the town of Mary, yet
Hid in the deep ravine,
A cleft of mountain Olivet,
Silent, and cool, and green;
I see the foot-path trodden still
He trod, that eventide,

The foot-path winding down the hill,
The path, by Kedron's side.

Half hidden by the grey old stem
Of many an olive tree,

I see thy towers, Jerusalem!
His face is turned to thee.

Jerusalem! oh lost and blind!
His face is turned to thee,
The star, the hope of human kind,
But Him thou wilt not see.

I see the bread, the mystic cup,
The faithful, and the vile,
The quiet chamber, lighted up
With day's departing smile.
Saviour! whose love no tongue can tell,
No limner's hand portray,
Light of the heaven where seraphs dwell!
Fountain of life and day!

By that remembered feast at even,
And by the morrow tide,

Whom should we seek but thee in heaven,
And whom on earth beside ?

The sun is gone, it is the hour
When thou wert left alone,
To struggle in the olive bower

With forms and woes unknown.

The vision fades, and round me come
Familiar household things,

About the trees and flowers of home,
The moon a glory flings.

So fast, the tranquil thoughts must wane,
That seemed with God erewhile,
And I shall cleave to dust again,
The worthless and the vile.

Speak with us, Saviour! by the way,
Till, from our bondage free,
Without the shattered walls of clay,
No stranger's face we see,

But one through all the mists of life
Seen dimly at our side,

And known amid the last dread strife,
The Christ! the Crucified!

Ελενη.

"Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools."-Ps. lxxxiv. 6.

The blessed Spirit of God usually sanctifies the mind of his afflicted children, by shewing them their many sins and their numberless mercies. The more clearly they discern, and the more deeply they feel the former, the more sensible will they be of the latter. It has been well said, that "the way of contentment is to add another burden; the heavier the burden of sin is to thy heart, the lighter will the burden of thy affliction be to thy soul." The heavenly Teacher then shews them that the very affliction (well called "the valley of Baca,") which deprives them of the ordinances, may become the most effectual means of grace, when "the rain filleth the pools."

"They go from strength to strength, every

one of them in Zion appeareth before God."-Ps. lxxxiv. 7.

The Holy Spirit has so sanctified their afflictions, that their progress continues, until they reach their heavenly inheritance.

"O Lord God of Hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob."-Psalm lxxxiv. 8.

David here seems to remember the privilege of private prayer, and to appeal to God in it, whilst the efficacy of all his intercourse must depend upon the intercession of his Great High Priest, (Heb. vii. 25,) to whom an allusion is made in the petition, "look upon the face of thine Anointed."

"Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us."-Ps. iv. 6.

Man, by the fall, has not only lost the possession but the knowledge of happiness. By happiness is understood that perfect and complete good which is suited and adapted to an intelligent nature. It consists in a complete tranquillity of the mind, and not

in a dull and stupid indolence, like the calm that reigns in the dead sea, but in such a peace of mind as is lively, active, and constantly accom panied with the purest joy. It is not a mere absence of uneasiness and pains, but an ease which is accompanied with satisfaction and supreme delight, and it will only have its full fruition in the immediate presence of God. (Ps. xvi. 11; xvii. 15.)

"Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God."-Matthew xxii. 29.

How often do we find the wisdom and goodness of Jesus manifest, in giving general principles which will extend beyond the occasion on which they are spoken. Of this we have an instance here, as the text shews, in the two great sources of our errors in faith and experience. If the word of Christ dwelt more richly in us, and if by prayer and faith we more frequently proved the power of our God, how secure should we be from the error of the wicked, and how free from distrusting fears and anxieties.

"And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die."-Gen. iii. 2, 3.

Satan's first outward effort was to gain the ear of Eve; but it is evident from her reply, that he had already obtained posession of her heart. This is clear from the following considerations - "she made too little of the liberal grant of the Creator, thankfulness was excluded, she stated the prohibition in strong terms of severity, (hereby introducing superstition,) whilst she faltered as to the certain and immediate execution of the threatening." In all this we have, as it were, the embryo of all his future temptations; whilst from the bait itself, we may learn the three great instruments which he employs, namely "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life."