him, lifted the piece of clockwork from the table, and hastened away." Solda was silent for a few moments. "Here indeed was displayed the power of deciding quickly, and that too while Maudi was yet but a boy; and then his good fortune!" exclaimed his hearers: "if the rest of his history will compare with what we have already heard, we might well hope that, in choosing Maudi, we should make choice of the right person." THE MIDNIGHT SACRAMENT.* "Well our Christian sires of old Loved when the year its course had rolled, Domestic and religious rite Gave honour to the holy night; On Christmas- Eve the bells were rung; On Christmas-Eve high service sung; That only night, in all the year, Saw the stoled Priest the chalice rear." WALTER SCOTT's "Marmion," Introd. Canto vi. What words can recall the impressive grandeur of the Ter Sanctus, the thrilling, simple sublimity of the Gloria in Excelsis, unearthly beautiful! not like strains of this world's wild music lingering on the ear, but like the voices of angels changing the heart's fear into a glow of rapturous joy and elevated hope, and assurance in the strength of our salvation, and the majesty of the Most High. WORKS OF DR. ANTHONY HORNECK. A CENTURY and a half ago the writings of Dr. Horneck were not, as they now are, known only to persons whose peculiar studies, or abundant leisure, lead them to more than a usual acquaintance with theological works. Horneck's writings were at that time the popular daily manuals, not only of his own parishioners, but of numbers besides. They went through repeated editions. But in the reign of George I. a remarkable and unhappy change came over our religious literature. The sterling practical works of such men as Bishop Taylor, Beveridge, Law, and others, fell into disuse; and they were replaced by frigid statements of natural religion, or by the raptures of enthusiastic Antinomianism. Horneck shared the fate of other writers like himself; for nearly a century his works *This should have been added to the article published in our last number, but it came too late for insertion. were all but forgotten. Within the last few years, however, one entire treatise, and portions of others, have been reprinted; and copies of the old editions of his writings may often be purchased at low prices by those who know their value. His first work was entitled "The Great Law of Consideration." By consideration, he means the employment of the whole understanding about our spiritual concerns. This work is divided into eight chapters. The subjects treated of are the nature and end of our being; the nature of consideration, as consisting of selfexamination, expostulation, and resolution; the necessity of such consideration; its ordinary impediments; the sins which may be traced to a neglect of it; its advantages; reasons for cultivating it; the assistance it derives from retirement and prayer. The "Happy Ascetick, or the best Exercise," is divided into two parts, which treat respectively of the ordinary and the extraordinary exercises of godliness. In the former he enforces, throughout fifteen chapters, the general daily rules of a holy life, such as to pray always, to form daily resolutions, to meditate daily, to watch over our tongues and our eyes, to do all to God's glory, to keep up self-examination, &c. The second part discusses the extraordinary exercises of godliness, vows, fasting, watching, selfrevenge. The Crucified JESUS; or, an Account of the Nature, End, Design, and Benefits of the Sacrament of the LORD's Supper, with necessary Directions and Prayers," &c. This admirable work consists of thirty chapters, being the substance of discourses preached, by way of preparation, before the monthly Sacrament at the Savoy. They constitute a complete treatise on the several parts of the Holy Mystery, and a devout method of preparing for its reception. "Sermons upon the Fifth Chapter of S. Matthew," published after the decease of their author. Besides these larger works, there are several smaller tracts written by Dr. Horneck. The same earnest devotional character pervades them all. Amongst these we may mention "Delight and Judgment," a little work designed to influence its readers by a recollection of the proceedings of the Last Day. "The Fire of the Altar," a course of devotions in a highly elevated strain, to be used before and after the Holy Sacrament. An "Answer to the Soldiers' Question, What shall we do?" an admirable tract for soldiers, in which he appeals to them as baptized Christians, charges them with the vices commonly incident to their profession, combats their ordinary excuses, and gives directions for amendment of life. Such are the principal writings of Dr. Horneck; and we cordially recommend our readers to study any of them which may come in their way. Learned allusions and florid language may be found in some of them; but Horneck's peculiar feature seems to have been to revive dead branches of the Church, to awaken careless and worldly men, and to lead them to that high standard of practical religion which prevailed in the primitive age of the Church. Those who are unacquainted with his works may be glad to see a few extracts. We subjoin the following: In his "Answer to the Soldiers' Question," addressing those who are forgetful of their baptismal obligations, he says——— "You have been baptized when you were children, and is it not worth considering what it was for, and to what end and purpose you were baptized? It is true it is a kind of ceremony, and you do not remember it, only have heard it, and it might be so for ought you know. Let me beseech you to inquire a little into the meaning of it. As light as you have made of your baptism, there is certainly some great matter signified and intended by it, and your parents and friends had some reason for bringing you to the sacred font. "To be baptized is to be washed with water in the name of the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY GHOST; i. e., to be separated, consecrated, and dedicated to the service of that GOD, Who, when you were fallen into sin and misery, gave His only Son to die for you, and is willing, by the HOLY GHOST, or by His HOLY SPIRIT, to sanctify and to renew you to a life of grace and holiness, that you may live and reign with Him for ever. "I am afraid you never, or very seldom considered, what that religion is into which you were baptized." "Those that brought you to be baptized promised and engaged for you, and in your name, that you should renounce all love and affection to sin, and the works of the devil, which is to repent; that you should heartily believe the Articles of the Christian faith, and obey the holy commands of GOD, that you might be partakers of all the wonderful mercies and benefits that come by the death of CHRIST JESUS. "Thus were you promised and vowed to GOD, and solemnly consecrated to Him very early, soon after you were born; and you are in conscience bound to stand to that promise, and to use all possible means to perform it, not only out of respect to your parents and friends, who brought you to the font, but because they promised no more than was your duty; and because you hope to receive the benefits of your baptism, and of the redemption wrought by the Son of GOD CHRIST JESUS, Who, to purchase a pardon, and the favour of GOD, and eternal glory, and the comforts of the HOLY GHOST for you, spilt His Blood, and laid down His Life for you. "These benefits you hope to be partakers of: benefits great, and such as the holy angels desire to look into; benefits you would one day give a thousand worlds for, if you had them, when you come to want, or to feel the want of them. "What a mercy was it in GoD to be willing to be reconciled to you! What a mercy to be willing to give you pardon, and heaven, and infinite bliss! You had no right, no title to it; He might have left you lying in your blood; left you, and given you up for ever to the power and malice of that enemy, to whom you had sold yourselves. He might have let you die, and perish, and groan in an eternal prison. And for Him not only to agree to a reconciliation, but to dispense it by His Son, the Eternal SON of GOD, and by such wonderful ways and means, by the death and sufferings of CHRIST JESUS, in the most amazing instances of kindness, and love, and mercy, and by these to assure you of forgiveness and salvation! O, how should you run to embrace these offers! How should your hearts rejoice at the joyful news! What haste should you make to accept of it! And with what readiness should you agree to the terms and conditions upon which all these treasures of God's love shall be consigned into your hands! "These terms are a sincere repentance, and hearty endeavours of obedience; terms you agreed to in your baptism, and than which nothing can be more reasonable. 66 Repentance is a change of life, a godly sorrow, that makes you angry and displeased with yourselves for offending a gracious and merciful God, and not only puts you upon resolutions to sin wilfully no more; but makes you actually cautious of sinning, and constrains you to prefer the favour of GOD before the favour of men, and to resist temptations. "Obedience is making conscience of your duty to GOD and man, and of the holy precepts and commands CHRIST your SAVIOUR gives you in His Gospel; and which you hear explained, and pressed, and recommended in public sermons and in pious books. Upon these terms GoD will receive you, and apply the merits and benefits of CHRIST's death to you, and make you partakers of His everlasting kingdom. Your souls, when you die, shall enter into rest and bliss, and your bodies in the last day shall rise again, and be re-united to your happy souls, and you shall enjoy GoD and His glorious Presence for ever." In a sermon on S. Matthew v. 14, he thus sets forth the dignity and hope of a Christian's calling— "Such of you, whom the SPIRIT of GOD hath made free from the law of sin, you are not only a city set upon a hill, but behold you are come into mount Sion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, unto the city of the living GOD; and to the innumerable company of angels, as the Apostle saith, Heb. xii. 18. Behold God hath called you to be citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, called you to be companions of angels, called you to dwell on the hill of GOD, on the everlasting hill. How high is your calling! How excellent your vocation! How great the dignity GOD intends you! Your conversation is to be in heaven; and will you mind the trifles of the flesh, and so mind them, as to set your affections upon them? Will you, who are born-new born, I mean-to an everlasting kingdom, will you be fond of this pitiful transitory world? you that are intended for the highest employment, will you do as the children of the world do? They are from beneath, you are from above. Do eagles catch flies? And you that are intended to soar above the clouds, will you disgrace your pedigree, and set your affections on things below? GOD intends you as conquerors, and will you suffer yourselves to fall a prey to filthy temptation, and expose yourselves to the contempt and scorn of the fowler, who flatters you till he draws you into the net, and then punishes you for being taken? "Behold the glorious city, the city of our GOD, the city set upon a hill indeed, the city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is GOD! Do you hope to be members of that community? and will you disparage yourselves by actions that will certainly exclude you from that republic? At the gates of it no unclean thing shall enter: a clean heart and a clean life must give you jus civitatis, make you free denizens of that city, and will not you prepare yourselves for the honour of that naturalisation? Except you imitate the manners of the citizens above, you can never hope to be partners with them in their glory. And what are their manners? Why, they love. Love is their trade, their employment, their business, their pleasure, their delight, their satisfaction. They love nothing but GOD, or if they love anything besides Him, they love it for His sake, and love Gop in it. Love is their principle, their end, their mark, and their entertainment. Love is their meat and drink, and their recreation. They love dearly, they love constantly, they love eternally. God is love, and He dwells in them, and they in GOD. To be like them see that ye love Him, That hath begotten you again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST from the dead. See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently; see that your love be without dissimulation; see that ye love not in word, nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And so when the thread of that life shall break, that love which dwelt in you will exalt you to the regions of perfect love, where the inha bitants speak of love, and think of love, and sing of love; and tell one another how CHRIST hath loved them, and washed them from their sins with His own Blood. To Him be glory for ever. Amen.” EMIGRATION TO THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. (Copy of a Letter extracted from the " Colonial Church Chronicle.") George Town, Cape of Good Hope, July 6, 1849. "DEAR PARENTS,-After a long time, I take my pen to write home to you, hoping this will find you all as well as it leaves us at this time. We arrived at Cape Town a fortnight ago, but was not settled, so we did not write. We stopped at Cape Town ten days, and then proceeded to George Town, where we now are. We |