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a countryman of yours.' So he took up the cripple and carried him through the streets, and placed him on the steps of the church. Much difficulty had the poor man to crawl up the steps; but when he arrived at the top he rose up straight and whole, and walked to the altar to give thanks; but the man with the battle-axe had vanished, and was never seen more; and the people thought it was the blessed S. Olaf himself, and they called the place where the cripple was found 'Cripplegate,' and so they tell me it is called to this day.' "Faith! I can answer for that part of the story myself,' said the Captain, the place is called Cripplegate, sure enough, but I am afraid S. Olaf has long ceased to frequent it, for we have not heard of any miracles done lately in those parts. But what is your story about the 'bale-fires,' Birger, for I see another in process of erection on that cape?-that looks like a remarkably good boat they are going in it.'"-pp. 225-227.

The English Prisoners in Russia, a personal narrative, by Lieut. ROYER of the "Tiger," (Chapman and Hall,) will be extensively read. It has the advantage of being an exceedingly well written account from personal observation, and of being published at such a rate as to place it within the reach of thousands. It is the kind of book to put in our parochial libraries, as it contains a vast deal of information upon a subject of great moment at the present crisis.

Heartsease; or the Brother's Wife, by the author of "Henrietta's Wish," needs only to be announced to command attention. An extract will be found in our present number.

The Second and Third Seals, a Sermon preached on Thanksgiving Day, by the Rev. E. MILLER, Perpetual Curate of Bognor (Van Voorst) is, it is needless to add, a sermon of great power and eloquence. We are glad to find that Mr. Miller has the boldness to declare that the recent Thanksgiving Day was a most inadequate way of acknowledging GOD's mercies: it was confessing a duty to GOD, and yet worshipping mammon at the same time.

"We are met," he says, "on a day of Thanksgiving-but how is it ushered in? The ear catches not the din of battle, but it is knocking at the heart of parent, wife, and child. There is pestilence abroad and pestilence at home; and Sanitary Reform is talking in its sleep, and doing nothing here or anywhere-and never will. Again, what is the never ending theme; the problem of the day; the calculation with unknown quantities baffling precision; which begins and ends in

confusion, and begins again? What but to weigh nations; and thus forecast if we can the issue of the war? to hold the scales between civilization and barbarism; degrees of enlightened rule, and despotism; vacillation, and decision; impetuous valour, and stubborn fortitude; granite and heart of oak. So we balance the kingdoms of the earth against each other-their presumed inclinations, their discipline, resources, improvements in the art of war. But GoD weighs their SINS. Look on the certain gloom, the uncertain issue; and think whether the shadow of the past may not be falling on the world we see; I beheld, and lo, a black horse, and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.'

"It is an attribute of the Most High, in the midst of judgment to remember mercy; and it is not all who know the full extent of that mercy, for which our imperfect offering of praise and thanksgiving has ascended to the Throne of grace. Imperfect-because it is a task too high, too holy for sinful man, worthily to magnify His holy Name, even for the mercies of every day; imperfect-because for reasons which must be of the earth, earthy, we have not been permitted to consecrate another day of rest to His especial glory as the LORD of the harvest; as if His Sabbaths already gave more respite than enough from this world's dissipation, and trade, and toil. If the hearts of Christian men were full of gratitude, and longed for utterance in united praise—so let it be ;-Yet not ought of your WORK shall be diminished;' there is rest enough on Sundays, rest enough in the grave; the factory bell must not give place to the chime from our old Church tower,-the chime that tells the weary one-'No work, poor patient soul, to-day.' The dedication of a special harvest-festival, has been weighed against the counter, the exchange, the mart, the loom, the steam-engine, the LEGION that claim six days, and grudge the seventh-and the scale has been true to mammon; but there is another scale in heaven,-'I beheld, and lo, a black horse, and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.'"'

We thank Mr. Miller for stating the plain truth in such forcible and telling words.

The Wisdom of Bezaleel, by the Rev. J. BAINES, M.A., (Skeffington,) is another eloquent and striking sermon, in which a plea is ably put forth for Church art and ritualism. It should be published in such a form as to allow of its being more generally distributed.

An Address to the Inhabitants of the District of S. Luke's, Berwick Street, on the late Visitation of the Cholera, by the Rev. SAMUEL ARNOTT, M.A., (Skeffington,) is plain, practical, and affectionate. We hope that it may by GoD's blessing be productive of good. We much regret that in a work otherwise so valuable, something at large is not said touching the Holy Communion.

CHURCH NEWS.

THE 12th of October was a day long to be remembered in the parish of Idehill, near Sevenoaks, Kent. Being the occasion of the opening of new Schools, the day was observed as a general holiday. These buildings, capable of holding 160 children, have been erected from designs by Mr. Street, at an expense of some £800, exclusive of fittings, fencings, &c., which have yet to be supplied. The services of the day commenced with morning prayer at half-past eleven in the little Church, built some fifty years ago by Bishop Porteus, who was struck by the great beauty of the spot, and determined to build a Church and Parsonage, and provide for the spiritual wants of the people by endowing the living. The sermon was preached by Archdeacon Harrison from S. Mark iv. 26, 27, 28, and the collection afterwards amounted to nearly £40. The Holy Eucharist, we regret to learn, was not celebrated, an omission which in these days is somewhat rare, and the offering of which should, we think, be above all things deemed of greatest moment on such occasions as this.

After matins a procession was formed (the Clergy in surplices and hoods) to the new Schools, which were beautifully decorated with heath, and fern, and garden flowers. On the route the 150th Psalm was chanted by the choir and children. Here special prayers were offered, and an appropriate anthem expressively sung. Afterwards rich and poor sat down together to a substantial luncheon provided by the Incumbent of the parish, to whose indefatigable exertions the parishioners are indebted for the blessing of such excellent schools. The mothers of the school-children were not forgotten, being treated to tea by their wealthier neighbours.

After tea the assembled company again proceeded to the Church, where Canon James preached from S. Matthew v., the latter part of the 5th verse. The party, which contained many of the neighbouring schoolmasters, then dispersed homewards. Everything, says a local paper, tended to the real enjoyment of a true Church holiday: an idea we are apt to fancy as sometimes only of times long past, but which we believe really

never to have been carried out in any age with the same Christian spirit, seasonable mirth, and freedom from excess, as is done daily in such well arranged festivals, as that we have now the pleasure to record. Amongst the company were Lord and Lady Holmesdale, Sir Samuel and Lady Hancock, Archdeacon Harrison, Canon James, &c.

The opening of the Training College for Schoolmasters at Exeter is an event which demands more than a passing notice at our hands. The importance of having Diocesan Training Schools for Masters cannot possibly be overrated, and the opening of every such institution is an evidence of restored diocesan operations under constituted authority. Every such building shows a conviction, which has been gradually growing for some time, that each Diocesan Church must have within herself the means of discharging her duties, and be furnished with every weapon to carry on the great battle against “sin, the world, and the devil, and to set forth CHRIST JESUS and Him crucified." But beyond the general interest that attaches to such institutions, there is much of a special nature attaching to the one so solemnly opened at Exeter. It is a standing monument of what patient continuance in well doing may effect-it is a proof that suspicions will die away before straightforward consistency of action-that coldness will be warmed into zeal, and hatred into love, when men will calmly pursue a great work, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left. A more remarkable instance of this we do not know than the institution, the opening of which we now record. Some sixteen years ago the Diocesan Board of Education for the Diocese determined to open & Training School for Schoolmasters. This was done in some buildings near the Cathedral on the 1st of January, 1840. In due time Government held out inducements to assist such schools, but on applying for aid the Diocesan Board received for an answer, that suitable buildings must be erected. An appeal was therefore sent out in 1848, and in 1853 the foundation stone of the new College was laid by Sir John Kennaway, Bart., the sermon on the occasion being preached by Chancellor Martin. The funds were considerably increased by the friends of

Synodical action, who contributed largely in commemora tion of the Exeter Synod, with the view of building a wing, to be called the Synod wing. This intention, in deference to the wishes of many, was subsequently abandoned. But though the foundation stone was laid, large sums of money were still needed, and Chancellor Harrington pursued his labours as Secretary, in conjunction with Mr. Force, with such unwearied energy and assiduity as to lay the Church at large under no ordinary obligations to one, who had deserved well of her before for his invaluable writings, and to crown his efforts with abundant success. The execution of the work was intrusted to Mr. Hayward, who designed a substantial building of Middle-Pointed character. The whole design is peculiarly adapted for the purpose, and we hope that sufficient funds will be raised to secure its completion by the addition of the Chapel. The building of College, &c., has cost between ten and eleven thousand pounds.

On the 18th of October the College was formally opened. The old city of Exeter presented a gay scene on the occasion, and banners, flags, &c., were plentifully displayed. Divine service was celebrated in the nave of the Cathedral, which was filled by a large and attentive congregation, that showed what use the naves might be turned to, and with what advantage, if we had a select body of Cathedral preachers with learning and piety to command attention, and sufficient physical power to endure the labour. Exeter, we believe, is peculiarly fortunate in its possession of such. The anthem, "Sing we merrily," sounded most gloriously, and filled the hearts of hundreds with feelings which will not be easily obliterated. The sermon was preached by the Bishop from 1 S. Peter iv. 10: "As every one hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of GOD." We shall not attempt to convey our imperfect recollection of so eloquent and touching a discourse, and to paint our own feelings as we looked upon the countenance of that great champion of the faith, and listened to the clear impassioned tones in which he delivered his noble thoughts. May GOD long preserve him to his Diocese and Church,

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