"exercise of the Divine energy within Him." Hereupon the Bishop has farther written, " It is objected, "that this seems to do away with the temptation; "that it is not clear that our Lord then had that 66 power, nor that, if in all points He was tempted "like as we are, He might not doubt that God "would prevent his perishing by hunger." Answer "Whether or not our Lord had at that juncture "the power of working such a miracle, (which, I "think, from the context can hardly be doubted,) "the force of the temptation consisted in the unfit"ness of exercising His power for such a purpose. "He could not do so without betraying a direct "mistrust of the Divine support, and (as the ob'jection implies) doing away with the temptation "itself. The temptation, I conceive, was strong to "exercise this power; and His refusing to exercise "it, was the triumph of duty and submission, in "His human character, over the most urgent in"ducements to a contrary conduct. I do not see, 66 66 therefore, that His supposed power of working “the miracle, materially alters the case as an example to ourselves. The difference between not 66 66 being able to work the miracle, and refusing to "work it, does not seem to render our Lord, in this "instance, a less apposite pattern for us to follow. By merely foregoing the use of His power, He 66 66 voluntarily placed Himself in the same predica"ment as any human being, who has no such power." 66 The production of these volumes was hailed by several of the Bishop's friends with strong ex pressions of approbation and delight. A Clergyman of high theological learning, still living, who certainly is not to be suspected of flattery, declared" So far as my own reading extends, no "such collection of sermons has appeared since the "well-known publication of Bp. Horsley. I mean "not to say that there is any resemblance between "the two collections; quite the reverse. Each col"lection alike shews, indeed, the hand of a master; "but characteristically each is strictly sui generis, "and stands perfectly distinct from the other. In "the virtue of virtues, clearness and perspicuity, your sermons strike me as decidedly superior; and, additionally to this cardinal virtue, you have certainly solved a difficulty of no very easy solu“tion; I mean, the attainment of genuine origin 66 66 66 66 66 ality, without the ambitious vice of affected, and 'generally mischievous, innovation." These evidently are more than sentences of course, such as a copy presented might require. But the following, from an aged Dignitary of the Church, (himself too an author,) since deceased, must have been, to such a mind as the Author's, decidedly the most gratifying and affecting : 66 66 "MY LORD, "I have been reading very attentively your Lordship's sermons, preached many years ago to the society at Lincoln's Inn, and now given to the pub"lic. I had not proceeded far, before I felt a desire "to express my thanks to the Writer for the benefit I was deriving from the publication; and this de"sire increased with the perusal of every sermon, "till, at the last, I found it so difficult to be restrain 66 ed, that I have rashly ventured upon a breach of "decorum, in addressing this to your Lordship. I "must rest my apology chiefly upon my overpowering sense of the superior excellence and usefulness "of the work. I do not know any other that I can 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 compare with it, as exhibiting the Christian religion in its truth and purity, and its heavenly superiority to all other systems, by proofs most copious and applicable, and by arguments unan"swerable; guarding it at the same time from errors and abuses, and pointing out that path of golden mean, which, apart from all corrupt ex"tremes on the right hand and on the left, leads directly to happiness, temporal and eternal. I "forbear to say more, considering to whom I am "now speaking; but much more, in particular, I "have to say, when I recommend it to the younger "Clergy, for whose use it is invaluable, and little "less so for all orders of persons, in the present and succeeding times. If more apology be necessary "for the liberty I now take, your Lordship will be "so kind as to consider and indulge me as an old "servant in the Church. It has been observed, that "the coldness of age is sometimes accompanied by a "warmth of heart. This I feel, when the interests "of religion are concerned.-I have the honour to "be, &c. &c." 66 It were impossible by any additional notices to corroborate the cool discrimination of the first, or to increase the beauty and effect of the last of these spontaneous testimonies. Taken together they may be said to constitute the most satisfactory human commendation. In the spring of this year, the original Reform Bill was introduced, and the Parliament which rejected it, dissolved. Bp. Van Mildert continued in London only long enough to take his seat in the new Parliament; and then again journeyed slowly towards the North, making some stay (as in the preceding year) at Harrogate. With a view to this, he wrote, June 10, 1831-" My complaint (though, "I trust, abating) still forbids any such exertion as my numerous calls require; and I begin to be 66 66 66 impatient for departure, were it only to run away "from incessant occupation. We purpose, Deo vo"lente, to start on Thursday next; to travel, with "my own horses, by easy stages; to stop at Harrogate two or three weeks; and then fix at Auck“ land for the summer. I project, also, a partial, if "not an entire, Visitation of my Diocese; but that "must depend on such health as God may please to "allow me. These are times in which I cannot but be anxious to communicate my sentiments "among the Clergy; and in which, indeed, we all ought to prepare ourselves for such a state of things as none of us yet have lived to witness. pray God they may prove less disastrous than at 66 66 66 66 I present we are warranted in expecting." Pursuant to the design which he thus announced, the Bishop effected a partial Visitation of his Diocese, during the autumn of this year, happily without any serious inconvenience; and having returned to London about the middle of December, could thence write 66 My health still fluctuates, but, I thank "God, is, on the whole, somewhat more favourable "than last year." His Charge, delivered on the late occasion, was about this time published; and for the dispassionate and able view which it takes of the situation of the Clergy, and of the conduct which, under existing circumstances, would best become them, is a production of more than ordinary value. It begins with just noticing the din of political strife, and its sad hinderance of the labours of the Clergy to promote the spiritual interests of the community. Previously, however, to offering his sentiments on such a state of affairs, the Bishop adverts to the local concerns of his Diocese. Here (if nowhere else) he could happily see reason for congratulation. A spirit of improvement had been generally shewn; and specially as to the points which on the former occasion he had brought forward, his wishes had been met with a becoming alacrity and zeal. Parochial schools, glebe houses, and churches had, in various places, been multiplied and enlarged; several parishes had been divided, for the better performance in them of clerical duties; and the societies in aid of the Church were working well. Still there was to be lamented a great, and even an increasing want, in the mining districts, of places of worship in communion with the Established Church; respecting which he suggests, in passing, the expediency of providing, under suitable precautions, auxiliary chapels, or oratories, as the readiest mode of supplying the deficiency. After this, the Bishop proceeds to remark at large, |