The circumstances attending this appointment were singular and characteristic. The nomination to the see was vested in his patron, the earl of Derby, subject to the approbation of the king; and it had been suffered to continue vacant from the death of Dr. Baptiste Levinz, in 1693. After a lapse of four years, the earl offered the bishopric to his chaplain, who declined it, alleging that he was unequal to so great a charge, as well as unworthy of it. Thus the matter rested till Dr. Sharp, archbishop of York, complained to King William that a bishop was wanting in his province, to fill the see of Man. The king was thus induced to send for the earl of Derby, who was then master of the horse, and urged the necessity of immediately nominating a bishop; upon which the earl again pressed the preferment on Mr. Wilson, who (to use his own expression) was thus "forced into the bishopric." On the 15th of January 1697-8, he being first created doctor of laws by the archbishop of Canterbury, was confirmed Bishop of Man, at Bow Church, by Dr. Oxenden, dean of the arches: and the next day he was consecrated at the Savoy Church by Archbishop Sharp, assisted by the bishops of Chester and Norwich.

We have now arrived at a period in this good man's life, when he begins to be better known. And as his name is in no way connected with the politics of the day, or with public events, we may be permitted, instead of following the order of dates, to bring together in each of the succeeding chapters such little notices as show his temper and spirit in some distinct point of view; and we hope that they will combine to present an eminent and engaging example of one who, in the direction of his life, endeavoured by prayer, watchfulness, and diligence, to keep a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man. His discharge of the duties of the episcopal office may naturally claim our first attention.

CHAPTER II.

HIS CONDUCT AS A BISHOP.

A bishop is a pastor set over other pastors. They were to ordain elders. They might receive an accusation against an elder. They were to charge them to preach such and such doctrines; to stop the mouths of deceivers; to set in order the things that were wanting.-BISHOP WILSON's Sacra Privata.

SUCH was Bishop Wilson's opinion of the nature of that high office in the church of Christ with which he was now invested; and as far as we can judge from the memorials of his life which have been preserved, he endeavoured, by the grace of God, to fashion his conduct accordingly. And happy indeed was it for that island to be the object of his paternal care. At the age of thirtyfour he was enthroned in the cathedral of St. Germain, on the 11th of April, 1698, six days after his landing in the island.

His devotional exercises on this occasion indicate a heart fully sensible of the goodness of God manifested in his elevation, and a desire that so much bounty might not be bestowed upon him in vain. He confesses his unworthiness of the great favours he received; beseeches guidance and a blessing upon himself and his charge; seeks protection from the temptations which may be peculiar to his new condition; and particularly asks, that if affliction be required for his correction, it may not be withheld.

The following was his prayer on that solemn occasion: "In an humble and thankful sense of thy great goodness to a very sinful and very unworthy creature, I look up to Thee, O gracious Lord and Benefactor, who from a low obscurity hast called me to this high office, for grace and strength to fit me for it. What am I, or what is my father's house, that Thou shouldest vouchsafe us such instances of thy notice and favour? I am not worthy of

VOL. I.

T

the least of all the mercies which Thou hast shewed unto thy servant.

"O God, grant that, by a conscientious discharge of my duty, I may profit those over whom I am appointed thy minister, that I may make such a return as shall be acceptable to Thee.

"Give me such a measure of thy spirit as shall be sufficient to support me under, and lead me through, all the difficulties I shall meet with.

"Command a blessing upon my studies, that I may make full proof of my ministry, and be instrumental in converting many to the truth.

"Give me skill and conduct that with a pious, prudent, and charitable hand, I may lead and govern the people committed to my care; that I may be watchful in ruling them, earnest in correcting them, fervent in loving them, and patient in bearing with them.

"Let thy grace and blessing, O Father of mankind, rest upon all those whom I bless in thy name; and especially upon those who, together with me, are appointed to watch over thy flock,

"Bless every member of this church; support the weak, confirm and settle those that stand, and feed our flock, together with ourselves, through Jesus Christ the chief Shepherd. Lord, who is sufficient for so great a work? Thou, O Lord, canst enable the meanest of thy creatures to bring to pass what Thou hast determined: be pleased to make me an instrument of great good to this church and people; and grant, that when I have preached to and governed others, I myself may not be lost or go astray.

"Preserve me from the dangers of a prosperous condition, from pride, and forgetfulness of Thee, from a proud conceit of myself, and from disdaining others. Rather turn me out of all earthly possessions, than they should hinder me in my way to heaven.

"If affliction be needful for me, let me not want it; only give me grace thankfully to receive and bear thy

fatherly correction, that after this life is ended in thine immediate service, I may have a place of rest amongst thy faithful servants in the paradise of God, in sure hopes of a blessed resurrection, through Jesus Christ. Amen."

A few months after, on the occasion of his laying the foundation-stone of a new chapel, to be built at his own expense, he writes in his memorandum-book the following prayer, expressive of the same sense of the obligations that were upon him, and the same desire to fulfil them :

"Bless, O Lord, thy holy church, and particularly this part of it, where Thou hast made me an overseer and guide. O, my great Master, let me not satisfy myself in building and beautifying the places dedicated to thy honour, but assist me by thy Holy Spirit, that I may use my utmost endeavours to make every one of these people living temples of the living God, that they may believe in Thee, the chief corner-stone; and that by this faith, both they and I may at last come to worship Thee in heaven, and to give Thee praise and glory for all thy mercies bestowed upon us; for Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power, for Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are, and were created."

His official residence, Bishop's-court, was at this time in a very dilapidated state; owing, in part, to its having lain untenanted for eight years; he was therefore obliged to rebuild the dwelling-house, and almost all the offices, from the ground. The expense of these and other necessary improvements amounted to fourteen hundred pounds; a heavy outlay, when we consider that the money-payments of his bishopric did not exceed three hundred pounds a-year. One only regret seems to have possessed his mind with regard to this large expenditure; "It having pleased God," he says, "to bring me to the bishopric of Man, I find the house in ruins, which obliges me to interrupt my charity to the poor in some measure." It was also soon after his appointment that the earl of

Derby again offered to him the living of Baddesworth, to hold in commendam. For this new proof of his noble patron's regard he was duly thankful, but as he still felt the propriety of the resolutions which he had made at an early period of his ministry, he declined accepting the offer. In this instance, as well as in his conduct on many other occasions, he presented a noble example of a strict adherence to the dictates of his conscience, and showed that he would not allow his worldly interests to give a fair appearance to what he really believed to be wrong.

In order to our forming a right judgment of his conduct as a governor of the church, it is requisite that we should be acquainted with a few particulars relative to the scene of his exertions.

ence.

The Isle of Man is situated in the Irish sea, and nearly at an equal distance from the English and Irish coasts. It is about thirty miles in length, varies from eight to twelve miles in breadth, and is about eighty miles in circumferWe should form a very erroneous idea of the place and the people of whom Bishop Wilson had the spiritual charge, if we were to judge from their present condition. The towns are handsome and extensive; large sums have been expended, (particularly since the commencement of the present century,) in erecting churches, chapels, a college, schools, places of public amusement, hotels and boarding-houses, markets, piers, and light-houses. Elegant mansions and tasteful villas are scattered throughout the island, a considerable number of English families have settled there, and the society differs in no respect from that of our larger island. By the last census the population appears to be 41,000. Some soldiers of the British army are always quartered there. Manufactories of paper, cloth, linen, and other commodities, are in full work; and the number of ships belonging to the island in 1829, was 217, of the aggregate burden of 5714 tons.

In all these particulars the Isle of Man has undergone a remarkable change since the days of Bishop Wilson. When he was appointed to the see, the population did not