little of such institutions. They believe them to possess not alone an outward, visible sign, but an inward and spiritual grace; and, as such, they thankfully receive them. Ritualism seems to honour both Sacraments, almost unduly. This is but in seeming; for in fact it degrades them, because it carnalizes them. envelops them in a Popish cloud, and represents them as the medium of blessing ex opere operato, or ex opere operantis.* Baptism is made a charm, to remove original and actual sin. The Eucharist becomes the vehicle for introducing idolatry. There is first shown an undue veneration of the elementsthen there follows their elevation-and then, in natural sequence, their adoration. High sacramental opinions, these are called. Are they not, on the contrary, low, earthly, and unspiritual ? Simpler far and truer is it, at the Lord's Supper, in breaking the bread or in drinking of the cup, to call to mind His own words, "Do this in remembrance of Me;" and therefore to find in this affecting ordinance the evidence not so much of the Redeemer's presence, as of His absence. Higher, too, and almost heavenly it is to feed on Christ by faith, looking upward through the sign to Him signified thereby; thinking—not of what the Minister is doing, but— of what was done for us, eighteen centuries ago, on Calvary; and thus showing the Lord's death till he come. * For a masterly confutation of opus operatum, in its several guises, reference should be made to the twentieth article of Jewell's Controversy with Harding. Works of Bishop Jewell. The Second Portion, pp. 749-757. The Parker Society's Edition. From no love of paradox, but from attachment to the truth as it is in Jesus, I have written these things. What is called High Churchism is, in reality, a low system of "will-worship," which tends rather to gratify man than to glorify God. Ritualists will, of course, on their part apply to myself and to so many as hold like opinions with me names, intended to prove that we belong not to the Church-know not the Church-and love not the Church. But such charges can be meekly borne; while, not in boasting, but in conviction based on God's Word, we assert our claims, (almost in the language of Paul, concerning the Ritualists of his day,) "We are true Churchmen, 'which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."" A CHAPTER XX. NIGHT THOUGHTS. "When I survey the brighte So riche with jewels hung, that Nighte Th' Almightie's mysteries to reade In the large volume of the skies. "No unregarded starre Contractes its lighte Into so small a character, Remov'd from hunian sighte; But, if we steadfast looke, We shall discerne In it, as in some holie booke, How Man may heauenlie knowledge lerne." GIFTED friend, who wrote a few years since so pleasantly about "The Great Sahara," has recently published a narrative of his explorations in "The Land of Israel." It is not my intention, in this place, to criticise his volumes, nor to mar their brightness with the inadequate expression of my own appreciation. I but allude to them, in connexion with my present subject; for, as I take up my pen, I call to mind some vivá voce depicturings of the writer's Oriental experiences. In the desert (I have heard him saying) with Arabs for companions, and a tent for his home-with national and social usages, unchanged from remotest periods—with the mountains of Moab in the distance, and the Jordan by his side his thoughts went continually back to other days and Bible scenes. It was thrillingly happy for him, during the night-watches, to gaze up to heaven's blue vault bestudded with constellations; and opening the Sacred page, at Genesis xv. 5, 6, to read of God's promise to Abraham : "And He brought him forth abroad, and said, 'Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them.' And He said unto him, 'So shall thy seed be.' And he believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness." There, as in the days of the man of Uz, yet brightly gleamed "Arcturus with his sons;" there, were visible "the bands of Orion;" there, shone "Mazzaroth in his season; " and there were yet felt "the sweet influences of Pleiades." All were unchanged. The skies, and the planetary bodies swinging in azure space, were the same. Patriarchs, prophets, and apostles had looked up from those sands, and seen those stars walking in brightness; but they, the living intelligent witnesses, had passed away. Humbling thoughts succeeded. Solemn reflections arose from the consideration of God's heavens, the work of His fingers; the moon and the stars, which He has ordained. And David's words issued from the lips, "Domine! quid est homo, ut memor sis ejus; aut filius hominis, ut eum respicias?" "Lord, what is man, that Thou takest knowledge of him; or the son of man that Thou visitest him?" To which enquiry the Psalmist's own lamentation is the befitting response, "Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away." For the nations, which possess not God's written Word and the clear exposition of His revealed will, two divinely-appointed guides have been provided. There is within them a still small voice witnessing; and by it they "show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another." (Romans, ii. 15.) There is without them, around them, above them, and beneath them, Creation. "That which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." (Romans, i. 19, 20.) Or, as we elsewhere (Psalm, xix. 1-4) read in the oracles of God "The heavens declare the glory of God: And the firmament sheweth His handywork. And night unto night sheweth knowledge. Where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, God in His works is the same as in His Word, displaying to the sons of men continually His power, |