As he grew, it became more inconvenient to him, and often painful; indeed, it was painful even to look upon him.

His mother was advised by skilful surgeons to have a portion of the flesh removed, as the only probable means of affording him. relief. His life, it was believed, hung upon this fearful operation, which was calculated to chill and appal the stoutest heart; yet he manifested no particular fear, nor was it conceived necessary to administer an opiate to stupify him, or to lull the pain. He told his mother that he thought he had now given his heart to God, and did not much wish to live. He thought it would be better if he should die young, and go and be with his Saviour.

When the time came, the surgeon was attended by seven others to witness the operation. It was performed by separating a portion of the flesh from the lower part of the jaw, from ear to ear, and the jaw was restored to its place.

Joseph afterwards told his mother, that when the doctor first began to cut him, he did not think he could bear it and live. But then he prayed to God that He would be pleased to help him to bear it; and after that he did not feel nearly so much pain. He afterwards prayed for his mother and for

his little sister, and for his Sunday-school teacher; and said that he felt so happy, and that he loved every body.

One who was present, and had witnessed many awful cases from the field of battle, said that he had not seen one which excited in his mind the intense degree of interest awakened by the patient suffering of this delicate and feeble little boy.

REV. G. T. BEDELL.

The Good Bishop.

IN illustrating "Christian character in various stations of life," it would be unpardonable not to give our readers some "sketch taken from the ranks of the fathers of the Church. In reviewing the succession of pious and learned men, however, who have been put in trust with the episcopal office in this portion of the Lord's vineyard, it is not easy to make a selection. Who shall presume to award a priority between such names as Bull and Beveridge, and Ken and Laud, and Ridley and Wilson, and others that might be mentioned? As Christians, we feel most unfeignedly that they are far above both our

criticism and our praise; but as rulers of the Church, it has happened that some have occupied posts which have called forth in a higher degree those points of character which especially become a "master in Israel." Of this number are the last four mentioned; and as the first is perhaps the least generally known, we shall make choice of Bishop Ken as the subject of our present brief memoir.

Thomas Ken was born in the year of our Lord God, 1637. He was educated at Winchester school and New College-the double foundation of William of Wykeham, the pious and munificent Bishop of Winchester. During this period, a successful rebellion had cast down the altar and the throne. That Ken was preserved from the infection of the times, may possibly have been owing to the silent spirit of these foundations; for it is providentially ordered by God, that His saints "being dead, yet speak" to us, in the good works which they have done; and it is in periods of decay and corruption, that their influence is perhaps felt most forcibly. Concerning the next period of his life, suffice it to say, that in 1661 he took the degree of B.A.; in 1666 he was presented to the living of Brighstone, in the Isle of Wight; and in 1669 to a prebendal stall in the cathedral

He three times

church of Winchester. travelled abroad; twice in the capacity of chaplain, and once as the companion of the well-known Izaak Walton, who had married his sister.

In 1684_Ken was called to preside over the bishopric of Bath and Wells, a station for which he possessed peculiar qualifications. The generality of us are not aware how large a debt we owe to the spiritual rulers of the Church. We reverence them, indeed, as "sitting in the seat of" (Matt. xxiii. 2) the apostles; but the extent of our dioceses is so large, that the bishop is seldom seen by a considerable portion of his flock; and it is therefore sometimes inferred that he is of no service to them. Such an impression a moment's consideration would remove. The king is not often seen by his people, nor the general by his soldiers; nevertheless their influence extends through the kingdom and the army. So it is with the bishop; and it is especially the two extremes of society-the high in station and the poor-who are benefited by him. Of the poor, the bishop is, by his office, the especial patron; and over the great ones of the earth he is enabled to exercise far more control than persons in inferior stations can hope to do. In both these branches of his episcopal duties we shall see that

Bishop Ken was at once diligent and successful. In speaking of his services to the poor, we do not so much allude to the largeness of his charities (though they were most liberal; and we are told that " when he was at home on Sundays he would have twelve poor men and women to dine with him in his hall; always endeavouring, while he fed their bodies, to comfort their spirits by some cheerful discourse, generally mixed with some useful instruction"),-as to the pains he took for their advancement in spiritual knowledge. He had not long entered upon his diocese, when, observing the general ignorance which prevailed upon the main points of the Christian religion, he published his admirable "Exposition of the Church Catechism" (called also the "Practice of Divine Love"), and shortly afterwards his "Directions for Prayer," which he especially dedicated to "the poor inhabitants within the diocese of Bath and Wells," styling himself "their unworthy bishop," and wishing them "the knowledge and the love of God."

Nor did he mean this only for children. "It is a great error," he observes," to think that the Catechism was made for children only; for all Christians are equally concerned in those saving truths which are there taught; and the doctrine delivered in