AN ACCOUNT OF AIDAN, THE FIRST BISHOP OF LINDISFARNE.

(With an Engraving.)

THE introduction of Christianity into Northumbria was greatly promoted by the prudent zeal of Ethelburga, Queen of King Edwin. She had been educated by her pious mother, Birtha, the Queen of Kent, in the doctrines and principles of Christianity; and when solicited by Edwin to share the honours of his crown, she promptly refused until he secured to her and her attendants the peaceable enjoyment of Christian ordinances. These conditions being inserted in her marriage contract, Paulinus was consecrated Bishop, and accompanied the Queen as her Chaplain about the year 624. According to Bede's account, great numbers of the Northumbrians were converted to Christianity by Paulinus; but on the death of Edwin, who was slain in battle, October 12th, A.D. 633, an end was put to his further labours in the north, when he, with the Queen and surviving members of the royal family, escaped by sea into Kent. The Queen found an asylum in the court of her brother Eadbald, and Paulinus was made Bishop of Rochester.

Edwin was succeeded in the throne by his nephew Oswald, who had received a religious education in the monastery of Jona, and one of his first anxieties on ascending the throne was, to provide instruction for his subjects in the doctrines and principles of Christianity, and he sent for a Minister from the monastery of Jona, founded by the VOL. IV. Second Series.

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celebrated Columba. In compliance with his request, a monk was sent of the name of Corman ; but the success of his mission not answering his expectation, he left the country in disgust. On his return to Jona, a council was held to receive his report, when he stated, that the Northumbrians were too barbarous to be instructed. One of the brethren, named Aidan, said to the returned Missionary, "It appears to me, brother, that you have been too severe on your unlearned hearers, and have not acted on the Apostle's plan, by first feeding them with milk before you gave them stronger meat." The assembly were struck with the remark, and they unanimously fixed on Aidan as the most proper person to undertake the mission; and he was ordained Bishop, and sent accordingly. The good King Oswald was so zealous for the conversion of his subjects, that until the Bishop became acquainted with their language, the King frequently acted as his interpreter.

Aidan had witnessed the unhappy effects of a newlyconverted people being left without a Christian Minister; for when Paulinus left the country, nearly all of the thousands he had baptized into the Christian faith, turned back to idolatry. To guard against a similar event, he invited a number of his brethren from Jona to his assistance, and he fixed his residence on Lindisfarne, now called Holy Island.

In reading the life and labours of Aidan and his coadjutors, we meet with none of those wholesale conversions related of the Romish Missionaries Augustine and Paulinus. The Ministers from Jona directed their subjects to the understanding, and taught the people how to give unto every one that asketh a reason of the hope that was in them. They established schools both for children and adults; and the leading doctrines of Christianity formed the basis of their education, the good effects of which were permanent. Bede informs us that Aidan was a man of extraordinary piety, meekness, and prudence, united with indefatigable diligence. He neither aspired after power nor wealth; for what was given him by the rich,

he gave to the poor. At home his time was spent in study and devotion; when abroad, in visiting the sick, and labouring to promote the salvation of souls. Though a Bishop, he might be seen itinerating among the villages without either mitre, crosier, or any external pomp. But his superior worth commanded that veneration which pomp and grandeur, unaccompaied by true piety, solicits in vain. If he was seen on the road, the people ran to beg his blessing; and if he came to a village, the inhabitants would flock together and entreat him to preach unto them the word of life. After having built the monastery at Melross, on the banks of the Tweed, and planted a number of flourishing churches, he died in peace, at his favourite apartments in Lindisfarne Abbey, August 31st, A.D. 651.— Historical Sketches of Christianity in England, &c., by the Rev. J. B. Holroyd. Vol. I., p. 68, &c.

HEARERS OF THE WORD.

Or hearers, there are usually four sorts, as our Saviour shows, in the Parable of the Seed. (Matt. xiii. 3——24.) As, first, an honest and good heart will not return from hearing the word unbettered: yea, he will so note what is spoken to his own sin, that it shall increase his knowledge, and lessen his vices. As who (by looking in a glass) shall see spots in his face, and will not forthwith wipe them out? A wise man will not have one sin twice repeated unto him. Yea, he more rejoiceth in being overcome with a wise and gracious advice, than he would have rejoiced in a revengeful victory. Of which we have a rare example, 1 Samuel xxv. 32, 33; a true argument of an ingenuous nature. Whereas those that will not hearken to, nor obey the voice of Christ, but rage and storm, are more stubborn than the wind and sea, (Luke viii. 24, 25,) enough to make them blush blood when told of it. But

Secondly. Another sort of hearers are like Tullie's strange soil,-much rain leaves them still as dry as dust; or the wolf in the emblem, which, though it sucked the goat, kept notwithstanding his wolfish nature still. And,

indeed, until the Spirit of God meekens the soul, say what you will, it minds nothing, or nothing to purpose. Whatever an impenitent sinner hears, it presently passes away, like the sound of a bell that is rung. Let testimonies and examples never so much concern them, it makes an impression but skin or ear deep: for, as in an hour-glass or conduit, that which in one hour runneth in, the same in another hour runneth out again. Who may be resembled to the smith's iron,—put into the fire, it is much softened; but put into the water, it is harder than before.

Thirdly. Another sort will very orderly hear the word, and delight in it, until it comes home to their consciences, touches their copyhold, as John served Herod; but then they will turn their backs upon it, as the Jews served our Saviour, (John vi. 66,) the Athenians, Paul, (Acts xvii. 16—34,) and Ahab, Micaiah. (1 Kings xxii. 8.) Now these, that will not hear an untoothsome truth, but turn their backs upon and fly from instruction, (John iii. 19—21,) not only declare themselves to be guilty persons, (for he confesseth the fact who to judgment turneth his back, and it is not the weak-sighted that cannot abide the light,) but it proves them to be out of all hope to become better; for that sin is past cure which turns from and refuseth the cure. (Deut. xvii. 12; Prov. xxix. 1; 1 Sam. ii. 25; 2 Chron. xxv. 16: turn to the places.) And take this for a rule,-if ever you see a drowning man refuse help, conclude him a wilful murderer.

Fourthly, and lastly, (for I pass by those blocks, that can hear the word powerfully delivered for twenty or thirty years together, and mind no more the spirituality of the matter than the seats they sit on, or the stones they tread on,) there are a generation of hearers, who, being told the naked truth, plainly reproved for their sins, shown the judgment of God, and the due of what they deserve and are like to endure, if they go on, will, Ahablike, carp, and fret, and chafe, and fume, and swell, and spurn against the very word of God, and be ready to burst again for being so sharp and searching; and thereupon persecute the messenger, as Herodius did Job, and