comeliness in their face or feature, which though poor, is yet a part of themselves, but of things merely without them; that they are well lodged, or well mounted, or well apparelled, either richly, or well in fashion. Light empty minds are like bladders, blown up with any thing. And they who perceive not this in themselves, are the most drowned in it; but such as have found it out, and abhor their own follies, are still hunting and following these in themselves, to beat them out of their hearts and to shame them from such fopperies. The soul fallen from God, hath lost its true worth and beauty; and therefore it basely descends to these mean things, to serve and dress the body, and take share with it of its unworthy borrowed ornaments, while it hath lost and forgotten God, and seeks not after Him, knows not that He alone is the beauty and ornament of the soul, (Jer. ii. 32,) His Spirit and the graces of it, its rich attire, as is here particularly specified in one excellent grace, and it holds true in the rest.

The Apostle doth indeed expressly, on purpose, check and forbid vanity and excess in apparel, and excessive delight in lawful decorum, but his prime end is to recommend this other ornament of the soul, the hidden man of the heart.

It is the thing the best philosophy aimed at, as some of their wisest men do express it, to reduce men, as much as may be, from their body to their soul; but this is the thing that true religion alone doth effectually and thoroughly, calling them off from the pampering and feeding of a morsel for the worms, to the nourishing of that immortal being infused into it, and directing them to the proper nourishment of souls, the Bread that came down from heaven.

Whoever attempts to remark upon Archbishop Leighton's character, must feel that he has given at best a very inadequate delineation of its excellence. To suppose that he attained this excellence without a hard fought spiritual conflict, or that he had not, like other men, his bosom sins to wrestle with, would be as unphilosophical as it was unscriptural. "The composition and quality of the mind of a virtuous man," says a great meditative poet, "contemplated by the side of the Grave where his body is mouldering, ought to appear, and be felt, as something midway between what he was on Earth, walking about with his living frailties, and what he may be presumed to be as a Spirit in Heaven. What purity and brightness is that virtue clothed in, the image of which must no longer bless our living eyes! The

* WORDSWORTH-Essay on Epitaphs.

character of a deceased Friend or beloved Kinsman is not seen, no-nor ought to be seen, otherwise than as a Tree through a tender haze or luminous mist, that spiritualizes and beautifies it; that takes away indeed, but only to the end that the parts which are not abstracted may appear more dignified and lovely, may impress and effect the more." The character of Leighton, though no Christian can contemplate it without loving it, does not need even that degree of affectionate indulgence, in which the truth is thus "hallowed by love." Where can another example be found of one in whom sanctification had proceeded so far this side the grave,-who had, in the language of his instructions for a holy life, so completely disunited his heart from all things, and united it only to God;' whose humility was so deep and continued; always displeased with himself, severe to his failings, adding to his attainments, forgetting that he possessed any holiness, so long as any remained to be possessed !*

More might have been said, in the course of these introductory remarks on the invaluable example which Leighton has left to students in the use he made of secular learning. If holiness could make any man undervalue human wisdom, he would have undervalued it; but his piety led him to value more highly every acquisition which would in any way increase his moral power, or become its instrument. His love to God was an active principle pervading every part of his knowledge, and making it subservient to usefulness and growth in grace. Here is a mind, formed in a great measure out of the strong discipline of classical learning and what a noble result! Here we see one, holier, perhaps, than any uninspired man who ever lived, storing his comprehensive mind with spoils from every region of human as well as divine knowledge One, whose piety and learning helped each other; who studied much and universally, but all for the Bible; who loved the classics, was profound in all the deep scholastic erudition of the age, yet felt that a single devotional thought was worth all the books in his library.

We might also have spoken more at large concerning his liberality of mind. So little is this quality understood, and so rare is the perfect exhibition of it, that Leighton's biographers seem

*The secret of his progress is expressed in a passage in one of AUGUSTINE'S Sermons. "Be always displeased at what thou art, if thou desirest to attain to what thou art not; for where thou hast pleased thyself there thou abidest. But if thou sayest, I have enough, thou perishest; always add, always walk, always proceed; neither stand still, nor go back, nor deviate; he that standeth still proceedeth not; he goeth back that continueth not; he deviateth that revolteth; he goeth better that creepeth in his way, than he that runneth out of his way."

almost to have thought it necessary to make an apology for what they have called his latitudinarian views. It was understood still less during his own age and lifetime; in that unquiet, intolerant period men would hazard the destruction of all religion, rather than abandon the most unmeaning of its ceremonies; so Leighton's indifference in regard to indifferent things drew down upon him the censure and obloquy of all parties. "It was not only in the Roman customs," said Burke indignantly, "but it is in the nature and constitution of things, that obloquy and abuse are essential parts of triumph." Most true is this noble sentiment in regard to every triumph in the march of Christian benevolence.

Leighton's views were too comprehensive, his habits of thought too profound, the elevation of his mind too holy, to be touched by the intolerant spirit of the age. The early years which he spent in travelling on the continent no doubt contributed powerfully to liberalize his mind, and raise it above prejudice. With what lustre do his benevolent and comprehensive views as a churchman appear, contrasted with the feelings and conduct of many among that party at the present day;-an example of liberality in the seventeenth century, which men in the nineteenth scarcely understand! He was too much occupied in the pursuit of the substance of religion to let his attention fasten on its shadow; and such was his love of holiness, that wherever he marked even its faint exhibition, he instantly forgot every minor difference in the warmth of Christian affection. His aim was peace, and not victory; religious truth, and not the established religion.

The years are coming, the time of rest, the promised Sabbath comes,' when this discordant world shall be quieted and made happy by the universal prevalence of such a spirit. How many centuries have passed of human misery, depravity, and waste of mind! The groans of nature in this nether world must have an end.' From multitudes of regenerate hearts, and every year the multitude is rapidly increasing, the yearning prayer rises to God for deliverance :

"Accomplish, then, their number; and conclude
Time's weary course! Or if, by thy decree,
The consummation that will come by stealth
Be yet far distant, let thy word prevail,
Oh let thy Word prevail, to take away
The sting of human nature. Spread the Law,
As it is written in thy holy Book,
Throughout all lands: let every nation hear

The high behest, and every heart obey;
Both for the love of purity, and hope
Which it affords to such as do thy will,
And persevere in good, that they shall rise
To have a nearer view of Thee, in heaven.
-Father of Good! this prayer in bounty grant,
In mercy grant it to thy wretched sons.
Then, nor till then, shall persecution cease,
And cruel wars expire. The way is marked,
The guide appointed, and the ransom paid.
Alas! the nations, who of yore received
These tidings, and in Christian Temples meet
The sacred truth to acknowledge, linger still;
Preferring bonds and darkness to a state
Of holy freedom, by redeeming love
Proffered to all, while yet on earth detained.
So fare the many; and the thoughtful few,
Who in the anguish of their souls bewail
This dire perverseness, cannot choose but ask,
Shall it endure?-Shall enmity and strife,
Falsehood and guile, be left to sow their seed,
And the kind never perish? Is the hope
Fallacious, or shall righteousness obtain
A peaceable dominion, wide as earth,
And ne'er to fail? Shall that blest day arrive,
When they, whose choice or lot it is to dwell
In crowded cities, without fear shall live,
Studious of mutual benefit; and he,

Whom morning wakes, among sweet dews and flowers
Of every clime, to till the lovely field,

Be happy in himself?-The law of Faith

Working through Love, such conquest shall it gain,
Such triumph over sin and guilt achieve?
Almighty Lord, thy further grace impart !
And with that help the wonder shall be seen
Fulfilled, the hope accomplished; and thy praise
Be sung with transport and unceasing joy!"

THE EXCURSION. Book Ninth.

SELECTIONS

FROM THE

COMMENTARY ON ST. PETER.

Holiness of Life.

THE Sunday's Sermon lasts but an hour or two, but holiness of life is a continued Sermon all the week long.

The Christian a Stranger and a Pilgrim.

At the best, a Christian is but a stranger here, set him where you will, as our Apostle teacheth after; and it is his privilege that he is so; and when he thinks not so, he forgets and disparages himself; he descends far below his quality, when he is much taken with any thing in this place of his exile.

But this is the wisdom of a Christian, when he can solace himself against the meanness of his outward condition, and any kind of discomfort attending it, with the comfortable assurance of the love of God, that he hath called him to holiness, given him some measure of it, and an endeavor after more; and by this may he conclude, that he hath ordained him unto salvation. If either he is a stranger where he lives, or as a stranger deserted of his friends, and very near stripped of all outward comforts, yet may he rejoice in this, that the eternal, unchangeable love of God, which is from everlasting to everlasting, is sealed to his soul. And O what will it avail a man to be compassed about with the favor of the world, to sit unmolested in his own home and possessions, and to have them very great and pleasant, to be well monied, and landed, and befriended, and yet estranged and severed from God, not having any token of his special love?

Elect.... unto Obedience and Sprinkling of the Blood of Christ. Men are not easily convinced and persuaded of the deep stain of sin, and that no other laver can fetch it out, but the sprinkling