angelic in the tone of his feeling and almost in his very form.

Another lengthened conversation, principally on his part, is remembered with hallowed delight. In it he entered fully into his own views and feelings, in words which cannot indeed be preserved, but the impression of which will ever remain; such deep humility, such simple reliance on the merits of Christ, and such lowly and mean views of himself, as to what he then was, all he had been, all he had done; such confessions of sinfulness; and then his gratitude for all his people had done; his present circumstances, and calm, undoubting, unhesitating confidence in his own absolute safety.

The day succeeding this conversation was an agonizing day. The doctors appeared to have abandoned hope. He took an affectionate farewell of the partner of his bosom-his beloved son-his affectionate friends. It is impossible to detail all that passed on that memorable day, and to describe the anxiety which he evinced that his death might be blessed to all around him, and prove the life, the spiritual and eternal life, of others. Turning to one of his young friends, who had been in kind and constant attendance upon him, to whom he was much attached, and for whose eternal welfare he felt and cherished the deepest solicitude, he said with great earnestness, "Promise me, promise me that you will meet me, at the last day, with an unclouded brow. Look me in the eye," he said, "and promise me;" nor would he rest satisfied till he had received an unequivocal reply.

To his dear wife he said, on one occasion, amongst many other things, "Sarah, if I die this night, remember I die in perfect peace with all mankind, and in the sure and certain hope of a blessed immortality." And then, extending his hands, he said, "These hands are filled with love! Mind, I have no quarrel with any man!"

Once, as he lay with closed eyes, apparently asleep, he suddenly lifted up his hands and eyes, and exclaimed,

"A guilty, helpless wretch am I!
Yet Jesus died for me."

He was much in silent prayer, and often his lips were seen to move when no sound was uttered. Chapters of Scripture were frequently read to him; he delighted to listen to them; they had a soothing influence upon his mind; and much consolation he derived especially from the 14th to the 17th chapters of St. John, which were repeatedly read in his hearing.

My own feelings will not suffer me to dwell at any length upon the last interview which I was privileged to enjoy with my

beloved and lamented friend; and yet I cannot consent on this mournful occasion to suffer it to pass away without some notice, however brief. I had refrained from visiting, or even writing to him, understanding he was too weak to endure the smallest excitement, though of a pleasurable kind, and reluctant to do any thing that might in the slightest possible degree contribute to retard, even for a moment, a restoration I so ardently desired. But when the public prints told me that death had actually entered into his domestic circle, and taken from his arms the child he so tenderly loved, I could refrain no longer, but sent to the sorrowing parents the expression of my condolence and sympathy; and the first moment I could seize, I hastened to the scene of his own personal suffering. I did not see him on my first visit, it not being deemed prudent that I should; but the following day I was summoned to him, from an impression, on the part of his surrounding friends, that his end was rapidly approaching. In this mournful visit I was accompanied by my most excellent friend, the Rev. J. A. James. We saw him together that evening (Tuesday, July 17th,) but oh, what a sight! Death was on his countenance, but never shall I forget the affection of his look as he gazed upon me, or the warmth of his embrace when he pressed me to his bosom! nor will it be possible for any lapse of time to obliterate from the memory of either of us the touching and impressive things he uttered. "Oh," said he, " 'my dear brethren-Oh, that I could give expression to some of the sentiments and thoughts which at this moment fill my heart, even to bursting ;" and after a pause, (for he spoke with extreme difficulty, panting for breath,) he added, "You see in me such an utter negation of all goodness, that I do not suppose it could be surpassed, even if the universe were burnt up to its last fragment-its last cinder; and yet if the great and glorious God has condescended to make such a feeble, worthless creature as I am, in any measure, an instrument in the promotion of his glory; Oh, what a wonder!-what a miracle!"

I sat up with him that night, but he had no sleep. We prayed for it, but the boon was withheld. Still, however, there seemed to be a change for the better in the course of the night; and about four in the morning, just as I had finished reading one chapter, and was about to commence another, he said, "I want to ask you a question. You have seen how much God has enabled me to bear. Now, if it should be, after all, his will that I should recover, and be restored to health, how ought I to welcome it? You know I have a desire to

depart-is that sinful? May I have a preference?" I answered, "Yes, assuredly you may. The Apostle had, and it was not sinful in him; but it would be sinful in you if you suffered your inclination to interfere with the will of God." "Ah," said he, "that's right." Presently he spoke again: "But should I be restored, it is highly probable that my restoration will be long and tedious, and I shall have much to suffer yet. How shall I endure it without murmuring and repining?" I told him, "that in this he did not manifest his usual wisdom. It was accumulating upon the burthens of to-day the burthens of tomorrow. He should leave the future, assured that he who had enabled him to endure so much, could, and would, enable him to endure whatever else he might be called to suffer !"

In the morning, when the medical men came, the favourable symptoms which had appeared in the night were so decided, that I believe they began to perceive, or thought they perceived, some faint gleam of hopea possibility, at least, that he might recover; and under this cheering impression I returned to Liverpool. But Oh, how fallacious was the hope! I had seen him for the last time in the body! And when I repaired again to the chamber where I left him, it was to gaze upon his lifeless clay !

And now, in any ordinary case, it would be expected of one who performs a service similar to this, that he should attempt a brief outline of the character, and enumeration of the endowments, of the departed saint whose memory he sought to embalm; but I feel relieved by the conviction that, in the present instance, no unreasonable expectation of this kind has been formed of me. You know my utter inability to do it; nor would you highly esteem the modesty or prudence of the man, if such an one could be found, who should entertain a favourable opinion of his fitness for the task. Such splendid talents, and such vast and varied acquirements, have rarely, if ever, been seen in connexion with so deep a sense of personal unworthiness, such ardent piety, and entire consecration of every power and faculty to God. There was in him a combination of admirable qualities, any one of which, possessed in the same degree, would have been sufficient to confer distinction. His learning was at once extensive and profound, diversified and accurate, and there appeared to be no limit to the extent of his information. On every subject, throughout the whole range of literature,

and the whole circle of the sciences, he was equally at home; and men who had made one particular branch or department their special study, were often amazed to find, when it was casually introduced as the topic of conversation, their own acquaintance with it surpassed by his, though quite unprepared for the discussion, otherwise than by the information he had, as a matter of ordinary acquisition, obtained. Of his Eloquence, how is it possible to convey to any one, who has never witnessed it, never felt its influence, or realised its fascinations, an adequate idea?-and in the estimation of such as have, no powers of description can do any thing like justice to the wonderful reality. I never felt the triumph of human eloquence as I have felt it in him. I never was riveted, in rapt, profound, delighted attention, by the lips of a fellow-mortal, as I have been by histill the excess of pleasure became almost painful, the delicious excitement induced a distressing exhaustion, and the relief was most grateful, when, by the close of the address, the chain was broken, and the charm dissolved. Nor does this representation of the fascinations of his eloquence apply merely to his more premeditated and precomposed discourses, but perhaps with still greater propriety to such as were altogether extempore, and without a moment's preparation; so that it is a fact, not more astonishing than true, that his spontaneous effusions transcended in brilliancy and power the carefully composed and elaborated productions of most other men!

In his powers of argumentation, he was almost unrivalled, and perhaps has never been surpassed. How he saw through a subject in a moment!-It seemed perfectly transparent to him. How he could grasp it, and grapple with it-analyse it dissect it-detect and expose every fallacy connected with it!In what varied aspects he could present it-with what endless affinities he could combine it what an infinite variety of rich and beautiful illustrations he could throw around it! so that he gave to every truth he handled, and every topic on which he touched, a bloom and a brilliancy, a freshness and a fragrance, it had never seemed to possess before. You were perfectly entranced, and, as you listened to an eloquence that appeared almost superhuman, you were elevated from the creature to the Creator, and ab

sorbed in the adoration of that Great and Glorious Being, who had been pleased to give such wondrous power to man.

But by the moral qualities of his heart, and those amiable dispositions and Christian graces by which his character was adorned and dignified, even his intellectual faculties and the endowments of his genius were transcended and surpassed. What meekness, and gentleness, and child-like simplicity! How was he amongst his brethren as their equal; and how patiently, and with what evident satisfaction and delight, would he sit at the feet of the humblest amongst them, to learn more of the excellences of the Saviour and the attractions of His cross. To that cross he clung; beneath it he took his stand; on it he fixed the firm and steady grasp of his faith; and beside it he determined-a determination he

never ceased to realise and follow out-to know nothing, as the topic of his discourses and the burthen of his ministry. With this theme he began-with this theme he advanced-with this theme he triumphed in its appropriate element, and under its ever-hallowed and hallowing influence he lived and died-in the utmost height of a well-earned and honourable celebrity—a ministry in the zenith of its usefulness-with a name untarnished, and a character without a spot-and now, it is the theme of his exultation and the burthen of his song in the celestial world, as, casting down his diadem of glory at the Redeemer's feet, he cries, "To him that hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in his blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God, even his Father, unto him be glory for ever and ever."

MR. EDITOR, I GIVE you, first of all, every text which mentions bishops, Acts xx. 28; Philippians i. 1; 1 Timothy iii. 2; Titus i. 7.

When we think of the kindness of God in granting infallible inspiration to prophets and apostles, from whom we receive the Scriptures, that we might have a sure guide in every thing that concerns salvation; and when we consider, on all occasions that arise, how perfect is this volume, and how able to make us wise to salvation; might we not naturally expect that all who profess a regard for the will of God and their own eternal welfare, would derive every iota of their religious sentiments from this book alone ? But, when we turn from plausible theories to historic facts, how completely is the scene reversed! What a crowd of strange notions and practices we find prevailing among Christians, for which no authority can be adduced from the word of God! Still, however unauthorised these things may be, if they do not affect the foundation of our eternal hopes, though we may grieve at the introduction of what is unnecessary and pity those who are enamoured of useless trifles, we joyfully exclaim, "thank God! their salvation is not thereby endangered !”

But I have now to expose to view an imposing theory, that has captivated thousands, and on which salvation is

made to hang; and, therefore, I must demand the more solemn consideration of its claims; and if these be found invalid, then I must be allowed to enter my protest with all that burning zeal which is due to the "faith once delivered to the saints."

It is, then, the favourite theory of the church of Rome, which has lately been revived, and paraded by the Oxford tracts - That Christ, having imparted plenary authority in his church to the twelve apostles, these appointed successors, to whom they delegated the same powers; that these successors were the Christian bishops, whose successors again stand now to us in the apostles' place; that these, therefore, have the exclusive power of ordination, or investing others with the Christian ministry, and that the ministrations of those who have not received this episcopal ordination is invalid. To this, the church of Rome adds-That, as Peter was the prince of the apostles, and was bishop of Rome, the pope, as his successor, is prince of bishops, and head of the whole Christian church. This is the famous apostolical succession that is now made to ring in our ears.

Every acute observer, especially if a lawyer, accustomed to examine claims, and sift evidence, will exclaim, "the very propounding of the theory confutes it; for there is a manifest want of

harmony, or keeping, or consecutiveness, in it. It has all the marks of a false syllogism, where things are slipped into the conclusion that are not derived from the premises, so that the whole scheme has the air of sophistry, and an imposition, for the aggrandisement of its authors. That this is my conviction I need not say; but that you may arrive at the same conclusion, by fair investigation, I will proceed to examine this doctrine of apostolical succession by the sacred Scriptures; by antiquity, or tradition; and, by moral character, or practical tendency.

To the first, or scriptural investigation, I shall pay most attention, as this is all-important and decisive; to the second, or tradition, I shall say enough to silence the vain boasts of opponents; and on the third, or practical question, I shall have a right to give vent to emotion.

I affirm, then, that this boasted apostolical succession,

Examined by Scripture, is utterly destitute of evidence or authority, a mere castle in the air.

Tried by the highest antiquity, it is found defective, a building on the sand.

Tested by its moral character and practical tendency, it is proved to be wicked and destructive, an idol temple on the burning lake.

1. Examined by the Scripture, it is utterly destitute of evidence or authority, a mere castle in the air.

I commence with the Scripture, because this is, with truly apostolic Christians, the only authority; and if others fly to tradition, this would rather damage than support their system. Aware that this is our principle, they make some appeal to the word of God. Here, then, we meet them on our own ground.

The apostolical succession is built on four pillars:

1. That the apostles of Christ left behind them successors in their office.

2. That these successors were diocesan bishops, appointed by the apostles to this honour.

3. That these bishops have, therefore, in succession, the exclusive right of ordaining ministers, or creating and perpetuating the Christian ministry, and ruling the church.

4. That presbyters, or elders, or pastors, have no authority to ordain, so that

the very existence of the ministry depends on bishops.

I have not mistated the theory; but I have inserted the last, rather than leave it to be inferred, because it is important.

Now here is a gorgeous edifice, resting on four pillars, every one of which ought to be firm as adamant, and proved to be so by the Scriptures; the charter of our salvation; for we are told that on these four rest the validity of the ministry and of the sacraments, and of our covenant hope of heaven. Shall I startle you, if I say, every one of them is false? If the Scriptures are to be our guide, all these positions are demonstrably false. Instead of adamant pillars, they are mere coloured soap bubbles, that require but a touch to make them burst, and, like a dream, leave not a wreck behind.

In the first place, The apostles had no successors; and this pillar being thrown down, the other three are dragged down with it.

In the second place, If, merely for the sake of argument, we suppose them to have had successors, the apostles were no bishops, nor are they said ever to have ordained bishops, and therefore, bishops were not successors to the apostles.

In the third place, Bishops are never said to have ordained any one; and, if they are distinct from presbyters, so far are bishops from having the exclusive right to ordain, that they have no scriptural right at all.

In the fourth place, The apostles did ordain presbyters or elders, and these did ordain one who is paraded as a bishop a bishop, did I say? in the Oxford Tracts we find him called, Archbishop Timothy.

What I have now said may be called mere assertion, that stands for no more than this-that you are not bound to receive it; but I am bound to make it good. But as I have expressed myself thus roundly, not for mere bravado, or imposing effect, but to put you, at once, in possession of a clue to my design; so I have put you in possession of the means of testing my assertions, by the texts which I have laid before you. These are all the passages of his word, in which God speaks of bishops. They are but four; for, though I might give a fifth, that I might not seem to omit any, this, which is 1 Peter ii. 27,

speaking, not of ordinary bishops, but of Christ, belongs not to the argument.

Those who are familiar with their Bibles, will see, at once, that these four pillars of popery are four falsehoods; for not one of those texts speaks a word about a successor to the apostles, or the power of a bishop to ordain.

Acts xx. 28, the first of these texts, does not show the word bishop in our translation; for there you read overseers, an equivalent term for the original επισκόπους, which is every where else translated bishop. You ask, Why not translate it so here then? I can assign no other reason than this; in a preceding verse the apostle is said to have called for the elders, or presbyters, and it was intended that you should not see that the apostle calls the same persons bishops. What! you exclaim, have they tampered with the Scriptures? What a sign of consciousness of a bad cause! But this very attempt to throw over the text a mask which we have plucked off, shows that it will not serve their turn; and here is no apostolical succession.

Philippians i. 1, "To the church at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons,' is the second text that contains the word bishop. Here you find but two officers, though the apostolicals make threebishops, priests, and deacons. Still, after we have gone through half the texts that say any thing about bishops, we have found no successors to the apostles.

1 Timothy iii. 2, "A bishop must be blameless," is the third text. In this connexion the apostle mentions none but bishops and deacons. Still no successors to the apostles; and we have but one text left.

Titus i. 7, "A bishop must be blameless," which is the last text, is a continuation of a sentence, "That thou mightest ordain elders, if any be blameless; for a bishop must be blameless," showing that he meant the same office by both terms, elder and bishop. We have gone though all the texts and not found one word of the successors to the apostles.

Could any person, who had come fresh to this investigation, fail to exclaim, Well; this is surprising! perfectly confounding! I should have expected a few texts to speak on this subject; and at least one, with some appearance of favour towards this vaunted theory. But

to find not a word about it astounds me!

But you have not mentioned Timothy and Titus, some one exclaims, and these are made important links in the chain of apostolical succession. I am aware of it; and will not forget them. But they are not mentioned in either of the four texts as bishops, and therefore have nothing to do with the scriptural argument.

Having thus hastily thrown down this Babel building of apostolical succession, by a mere glance at all the texts which treat of the subject; let us walk over the ruins, and see whether we can pick up any materials to reconstruct a scriptural edifice of succession, through the bishop up to the pope. I then assert

1. That the apostles' office was absolutely unique, peculiar to the twelve, who neither had, nor could have successors; for their office lived and died with them.

2. That if, for the sake of argument, we conceive of successors, these could not be found among bishops, who have neither common names, nor offices, with the apostles. The apostles are never called bishops; nor bishops, apostles; the apostles have an unrestricted and bishops a restricted sphere.

3. That, if authority to ordain ministers be the apostles' prerogative, for the sake of which they are said to have successors; the Scriptures give bishops no authority to ordain, and, therefore, no title to be called apostles.

4. If bishops claim to be a distinct order from presbyters, then it is these presbyters that have the scriptural right to ordain; these bear the same name that apostles have taken, and have the best claim to be considered successors to the apostles.

Before I go into the proof, I ask, is it not ominous for apostolical succession, that neither this phrase, nor any one equivalent to it, is found in Scripture? If the thing is taught, it must be expressed by some words. We find dradoxn, succession, which is such a favourite with traditionists, used once in the New Testament; yet it is not employed to connect bishops with apostles, but a Roman governor with his successors. "Felix received Portius Festus as his successor," Acts xxiv. 27. What! the book of God use the word for a heathen, and never once apply it to bishops! No; a man might have critically examined