From the Sovereign downwards, persons holding responsible and important offices in the service of the State are called upon, on entering on their duties, to pledge themselves by a solemn invocation of the Almighty, to a faithful and proper discharge of their trust. We find warrant for this also in Scripture. "This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded. If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth." "Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name."

This was commanded God's chosen nation of old, this He now commands us. It is the nation's recognition of Him as Supreme Ruler, and her confession before the world that she owes her first duty and homage to Him "by whom kings reign, and princes decree justice." "For men verily swear by the greater," and to swear by Him is to acknowledge and submit to His government of the nations upon earth. This is the safeguard religion possesses in the State, for it is the surety that the Sovereign is Defender of the Faith. So long as the sanctity of this oath is preserved, no atheist can enter our Christian Legislature; and by these solemn appeals to, and invocations of the Almighty made in high and responsible positions of the State, we confess that, insufficient in ourselves for these things, we look to, and rely on, His guidance and strength, as

the only sure means by which they can be faithfully accomplished.

"And thou shalt swear, the Lord liveth; in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory."

This is the Church's faith, which, except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be a true Churchman.

Believe faithfully; for it is possible to adhere strictly to the letter, while ignoring the spirit,—to believe according to the intellectual belief in the stated fact, and not enter experimentally into the spiritual meaning. We may thus hold firmly the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, yet not enter into communion with God as our Father, Saviour, and Sanctifier; to believe the historical fact of Christ's Resurrection, yet not be ourselves buried and risen with Him; to reverence the Bible as the Word of God, and even be well acquainted with its contents, yet never lay its truths to heart; to duly receive the sacraments, yet not possess that inward grace of which they are the outward sign; to allow the advantage of an Established Church, yet see in it no more than "a branch of the Civil Service." We may belong thus to the "Holy Catholic Church," without being members in spirit and truth of the "Communion of Saints."

We have seen that our Church possesses a "settled doctrine;" we have inquired of what that doctrine consists; and have endeavoured to prove from Holy

Scripture the warrant every article of our faith possesses in the Word of God. If that warrant be surely made out, the call to us is, as to the Apostle of old," Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein."

Measure its standing on the ground of our hearts; if the world has hitherto encroached upon the sanctuary, let the sanctuary henceforth encroach upon the world; "stretch its cords, fix farther its stakes," till it is even as a tent to dwell in." Extend it to the

west, where the sun of our life is gradually sinking; extend it to the east, where the Sun of Righteousness shall appear; extend it north in the cold darkness "where Satan's seat is;" extend it to the south, that it may be from the scorching glare of this world, "as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land."

And when Satan's ground shall have been finally covered by it, and the Church Militant become the Church Triumphant, then will God measure His Church, and to those who are found within, the promise is sure; "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the Temple of my God, and he shall go no more out."

Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His Temple; and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them." "What time the evening shadows fall Around the Church on earth,

When darker forms of doubt appal,
And new false lights have birth;

N

Then closer should her faithful band,

For truth together hold,

Hell's last devices to withstand,

And safely guard her fold.

"O Father, in that hour of fear,
The Church of England keep;
Thy altar to the last to rear,

And feed Thy fainting sheep:
May she the holy truths attest,
Apostles taught of yore,
Nor quit the faith by saints confest,
Though tempted ne'er so sore.

"O Spirit, Lord of light and life,

Thy Church with strength renew,
Compose the angry voice of strife,
All jealousies subdue:

The east, the west, together bind
In love's unbroken chain,

Give each one hope, one heart, one mind,
One glory, and one gain.

"Great Three in One, great One in Three, Our hymn of prayer receive,

And teach us all from sin to flee,

And live as we believe;

So, pure in faith, our thoughts and speech,
And acts that faith shall own,

So shall we to Thy Presence reach,
And know as we are known."

PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO.
EDINBURGH AND LONDON.

NEW AND FORTHCOMING BOOKS.

LIFE ECHOES. By the late FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL. With Twelve Illustrations of Scenery by the Baroness HELGA VON CRAMM. Small 4to, cloth gilt, 12s.

THE EMPIRE OF THE HITTITES IN THE LIGHT
OF THE BIBLE AND INSCRIPTIONS. With Copies of the
Inscriptions. By WM. WRIGHT, D.D. Demy 8vo, with Illus-
trations, 7s. 6d.

THE LAW OF JEHOVAH: Lectures on the Decalogue.
By the Rev. J. MATTHEW. Crown 8vo, cloth, 4s. 6d.
THE ATONEMENT: A Clerical Symposium. By Vari-
ous Writers. (Reprinted from the "Homiletic Magazine.")
Crown 8vo, 6s. Among the Contributors are the Bishop of
Amycla, Dr. R. F. Littledale, Professor Israel Abrahams, Arch-
deacon Farrar, Principal Robert Rainy, Crosby Barlow, and the
Rev. G. W. Olver.

THE JEWS. By the Rev. Professor KELLOGG, D.D., Professor in the Western Theological Seminary, Alleghany, Penn., U.S.A. Crown 8vo, cloth, 4s. 6d.

OVER THE HOLY LAND. By the Rev. J. A. WYLIE, LL.D., Author of "The History of Protestantism." Crown 8vo, cloth, 7s. 6d.

THE GOSPEL IN PARIS. By the Rev. Dr. BERSIER.
Crown 8vo, cloth, 7s. 6d.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CHRISTIANITY. By the Rev.
Professor STANLEY LEATHES, D.D., Professor of Hebrew, King's
College, London. Crown 8vo, 6s.

INFORMATION AND ILLUSTRATIONS FOR
PREACHERS AND TEACHERS. By the Rev. G. S. BOWES,
Author of "Illustrative Scripture Gatherings." Crown 8vo,
cloth, 5s.

OBSCURE SCRIPTURE CHARACTERS AND MINOR LIGHTS OF SCRIPTURE. By the Rev. FREDERICK HASTINGS. Crown 8vo, 5s.

THE PUBLIC MINISTRY AND PASTORAL METHODS OF OUR LORD. By the Rev. Professor BLAIKIE, D.D., Author of "In the Work of the Ministry." Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s.

No. 1.