marvel will remain that the populace preferred those images to which they were accustomed, or that the more philosophic inquirer found little apparent advantage in transferring his veneration from the legends of the Ramayana to the almost equally doubtful names of St. Veronica, St. Ursula, and St. George the Cappadocian!-But we, my brethren, have not so learned Christ. Whether our success be great or small, it is to something very different from Hinduism that we Protestants lead our converts; and though I am far, Heaven knows, from placing on the same level the Brahminical and the Romish faith; and though as a form, though a corrupt form, of the knowledge whereby men are brought to God, I rejoice in every conquest which this latter has made among the heathen, I would rather, should God so far honour me, be the instrument of bringing one idolater to the worship of the one true God, and the one mediator between God and man, than to have persuaded, like Xavier, my tens of thousands to patter their rosary in Latin instead of Sanscrit, and transfer to the Saints the honour which they had paid to the Devetas.

But are any converts made to our sober and less attrac tive ritual? Will not the homely truths of Protestantism fail to attract attention where the gorgeous rites of Romish splendour fail?-Let me, in the first place, express my sorrow, that so little pains have yet been taken to bring Protestant Christianity before the attention of the heathen in its most comely and attractive form; in that form which blends decency of ornament with perfect purity of worship, and has preserved the beauties of the ancient liturgies without any intermixture of more recent superstition. The Common Prayer has been translated into Hindustani, Cingalese, and Tamil. But how few places of worship for those different nations are there, in which that excellent ritual is regularly used with its striking and primitive appendages of surplice, font and altar! Even where ministers of our own Church have officiated, I have heard, in many parts of India, of a carelessness in these particulars. I am, therefore, the more anxious to call the attention of those who hear me to the advantage, and, I will say, the

duty of conforming in external decorum, no less than in spirit and doctrine, to a Church of which, I trust, none of us are ashamed; and to that beauty and regularity of worship which both well becomes the truth, and may cause the truth itself to be received with less reluctance.

But are no converts made to Protestant Christianity? Bear witness to the contrary the Christians of Agra, of Benares, of Buxar, of Meerut, and Chunar! Bear witness those numerous believers of our own immediate neighbourhood, whom, though we differ on many, and doubtless, on very important points, I should hate myself if I could regard as any other than my brethren! Let the populous Christian districts of the Carnatic and Tanjore, bear witness, where believers are not reckoned by solitary individuals, but by hundreds and by thousands! Bear witness Ceylon, where the Cross has, in a great measure, lost its reproach, and the nobles of the land are gradually assuming without scruple the attire, the language, and the religion of Englishmen! And let him, finally, bear witness whom we have now received into the number of the commissioned servants of the Church, and whom, we trust, at no distant day, to send forth, in the fulness of Christian authority, to make known the way of truth to those his countrymen from whose errors he has himself been gloriously delivered!

To perpetuate and extend these triumphs must be the endeavour of those around me, who, however small their success, are aware that, in thus endeavouring, they are fulfilling a solemn commandment of God, and who, though their visible success should be none at all, will at least, if they are faithful in their ministry, have saved their own souls, and laid up for themselves a good reward on that day when the Lord shall make up His jewels; a day for which no better preparation can be found than a patient and unwearied continuance in well doing, and in stretching out, like Him whom we serve, our consecrated hands to exhort, to heal, and to save, though it may be that, like His, our hands are stretched out to a gainsaying and unbelieving people!

From even the taunts of an adversary, however, a wise

man will increase his wisdom. And, if we learn, from the volume which I have quoted, a greater moderation in our language, and a greater circumspection in our deportment; more strict adherence to the union and discipline of the Church; and a more careful abstinence from every thing like exaggeration in those accounts of our progress in the work which are sent to our friends in Europe, it is apparent that some of those hindrances will be lessened which impede the progress of the truth, and that a more abundant blessing may be expected on our toils from Him who is the God of peace, of order, and of humility.

It is on these grounds that I would recommend to you, in your intercourse with the heathen, a careful abstinence from every thing which may enlist their angry passions on the side of error; all expressions hurtful to their national pride, and even all bitter and contemptuous words against the objects of their idolatry.

In these respects, no better model can be found than the great apostle of the Gentiles, whose harshest words, in his addresses to the Athenians and men of Lystra, are of a kind to stimulate the curiosity, far more than to wound the zeal of the fiercest and least tolerant Pagan, and of whom at Ephesus, however boldly and successfully he had contended for the truth, no man was able to say that he was actually a blasphemer of their. goddess. In no cause, indeed, however righteous, can abuse and insult hold the place of argument; and far nobler conquests may be gained in a friendly discussion with our adversary, than by adopting a tone which, in itself, gives him an additional motive to shut his ears against all which we urge to him.

The next topic which I would desire to impress on your minds, is the advantage and necessity (I speak both to chaplains and missionaries) of a constant and confidential communication of the more important occurrences of your ministry with each other and with your ecclesiastical superiors.

It was a wise rule of the ancient Church " χωρὶς ἐπισ NOTOV UN TI TOIEI," not, certainly, that it is well or worthy of the priesthood that any man or set of men should system

atically play the part of spies on their Christian brethren, but because, by such a system of confidence, the very existence of spies is rendered almost impossible; because the elders of the Church, being acquainted with the views of every man, and having opportunity, in the least offensive way, to correct, to guide, to forward them, became themselves a leading party in every beneficial measure, and were enabled often to render measures beneficial, which would otherwise have assumed a very doubtful character.

It is the misfortune of the modern English Church, that the Bishop is too often regarded by his clergy, not as the master-spring, but as merely a controlling power; a remora to check too ardent zeal, rather than an agent to further improvement; a censor of measures already adopted, rather than a guide in measures proposed. I rejoice to say that, with such of my clergy as I have as yet personally known, I feel myself on a very different footing; and it is in order that this mutual confidence may become general throughout the diocese, that I am anxious that all should be convinced that, in their Ordinary, they have a fellow-servant and a friend, actuated by the same general principles, confessing the same faith, and having the same great objects continually in view; who is only desirous to forward their labours of love by the aid of such experience as he possesses, and to prove to them, experimentally, that for the most ardent zeal, and for activity the most incessant, enough and more than enough of room is afforded by the closest principles of Church union, and the most cautious adherence to the canons and constitutions of that Church to which we profess allegiance.

Lastly, my brethren, whereuntosoever ye are called, and whatever may be the peculiar sphere of ministerial action. marked out for you, let it be always in your minds, as the prevailing principle of your lives, that you are ministers of Christ, and devoted to his high and holy calling. "Hoc agite!" Let every man who hears you preach; every man who witnesses your performance of your sacred functions; every man who is admitted to your society and familiar conversation, be made aware that there is thus much

distinction in your character, and that your main object is that of your profession.

Even if worldly estimation, if worldly popularity were our objects, it is conduct like this which (undisgraced by affectation and formality, and proceeding unfeignedly from the good treasure of the heart) would eventually most secure them. Consistency is, after all, that quality for which, even among worldly and carnal men, the most unfeigned respect is entertained; and the man who is in earnest, whether they account him mistaken or no, is always esteemed the most, and listened to most willingly. But the world is not the master whom I am desirous that you should seek to please; and the applause of the world is of very little moment to those whose industry is commanded in the words, "occupy till I come!" and whose labours will be rewarded with, "well done, good and faithful seryant !"

It was by a more than usual attention to the consistency of his appropriate character, and to the paramount and indispensable necessity of his appropriate pursuits and duties, that the character of Bishop Middleton became that which you beheld, and that which he, for the example of us all, has left behind him. That great and good man, had his mind been attracted to secular objects, possessed much of every quality on which the world bestows its favour. But, though his memory was stored with all profane and civil literature, the application of his learning and talents was to ecclesiastical purposes only. He ranked among the very foremost critics of his age, yet it was to scriptural criticism only that his acumen was directed. He had, I am assured, an inexhaustible supply of lighter and more elegant literature, yet he sought to be remembered as a preacher and a theologian only. Nay more, when his lifelong labours were at length drawing near their term, as if fearing the applause of men, even in those branches of study which were strictly appropriate and ministerial, he consigned, as a last sacrifice, his laboured manuscripts to the flames, content to live in the memory of those who personally knew, and loved, and honoured him, and desiring no other reward than the mercy of Him to whom his thoughts, his studies, and his prayers, had been long and steadily dedicated.