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BEFORE STUDY.

“O GOD, the fountain of all wisdom! in a deep sense of my own ignorance, and of the great charge which lies upon me, I am constrained to come often before Thee, from whom I have learned whatever I know, to ask that help without which I shall disquiet myself in vain. Most humbly beseeching Thee to guide me with thine eye, and enlighten my mind, that I may see myself, and teach others, the wonders of thy law; that I may learn from Thee what I ought to think and speak concerning Thee. Direct and bless all the labours of my mind; give me a discerning spirit, a sound judgment, and an honest and religious heart; and grant that in all my studies, my first aim may be to set forth thy glory, and to set forward the salvation of mankind; that I may give a comfortable account of my time at the great day when all our labours shall be tried.

"And if Thou art pleased that by my ministry sinners shall be converted, and thy kingdom enlarged, give me the grace of humility, that I may never ascribe the success to myself, but to thy Holy Spirit, which enables me to will and to do according to thy good pleasure. Grant this, O Father of all light and truth, for the sake of Jesus Christ."

His writings were principally designed for the spiritual benefit of the islanders. One work, published in 1699, in Manks and English, and entitled The Principles and Duties of Christianity, was the first book ever printed in their native tongue. It is noticed in the Diary of Mr. Thoresby, the topographer of Leeds, who says that he received a copy from the "pious author," and speaks of it, not only as a curiosity, being the first book that was ever printed in the Manks language," but also as an excellent practical treatise in the English part of it." The same book was afterwards altered and enlarged, and published in 1740 under the title of The Knowledge and Practice of Christianity made easy to the meanest Capacities; or an Essay towards an Instruction for the Indians; which

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will likewise be of use to all such who are called Chris. tians, but have not well considered the Meaning of the Religion they profess; or who profess to know God, but in works deny Him. In twenty dialogues. Speaking of this work in a letter to his son, he modestly observes,"I have the poorest opinion of my own abilities, and I can approve of little that I have done on this head; but since it is gone so far, there is no drawing back." His Commentary upon the Holy Bible, and several other publications, were designed to explain the Scriptures to unlearned people, to enforce their duties, to assist their devotions, and to make them wise unto salvation. His Short Introduction to the Lord's Supper is one of the most simple expositions of the nature and benefits of that ordinance, and is still deservedly popular.

For the fishermen of the island, who in the exercise of their calling were exposed to great perils, he provided a suitable Form of Prayer, to be used on the occasion described in the following extract from his History of the Isle of Man. "Formerly," he says, "herrings were the great staple commodity of this Isle, of which, (within the memory of some now living,) near twenty thousand barrels have been exported in one year to France and other places. The time of herring-fishing is between July and All-hallows' tide. The whole fleet of boats (every boat being about the burden of two tons) are under the government of the water-bailiff on the shore, and under one called a vice-admiral at sea, who, by the signal of a flag, directs them when to shoot their nets, &c. ... In acknowledgment of this great blessing, and that God may be prevailed with to continue it, (this being the support of the place,) the whole fleet duly attends divine service on the shore, at the several ports, every evening before they go to sea; the respective incumbents on that occasion making use of a form of prayer, lessons, &c., lately composed for that purpose." This pious practice is still continued.

Further evidence of his watchful care of the people may be found in his endeavours to promote piety and dili

gence amongst their spiritual pastors. Hence the valuable treatise called Parochialia; or, Instructions for the Clergy, and other little works addressed to candidates for the ministry, from one of which the following passage is selected, as giving an important hint to those who desire to profit by reading the word of God. "There are two things which I do most earnestly recommend to you, as you hope to benefit yourself or others by reading the Holy Scriptures. The first, that you always implore the assistance of the Spirit by which they were written, for the true understanding of them; and the second, that you apply every Scripture as spoken to yourself. For instance say to yourself,-This is the very word of God;-this is his command to me, it is what He requires of me ;—this, by the grace of God, I will observe. Do I live like one who believes this truth? Do I act according to this rule ?"

"Give me credit," he proceeds, "by this plain and easy method, of considering every truth as concerning yourself, your graces will increase with your knowledge; you will become every day more humble, more devout, more patient, &c. You will avoid the vices and the snares there set down, and dread the consequence of falling into them. In one word, you will come to such a knowledge of divine truths, as that you will know your own duty perfectly; and in God's good time be able to teach others*

His publications were highly commended by eminent men in England; and his son sent to him several letters in which they were spoken of in terms of warm admiration. The feelings awakened in his mind are expressed in the following reply ;-"I am not elated with the letters you enclosed me; if any good is likely to be done, far be it from me to take the praise to myself, let it be ascribed to the good Spirit of God; and let me take the shame to myself for the many faults I plainly see in it, and for the negligence with which it is performed. May God forgive me these, and pardon the things I have been wanting in,

* Instructions for an Academic youth.

and the good I might have done in the way of my duty, in a long, long life, and in my proper calling, and I shall bless his name for ever."

This chapter may appropriately conclude with an extract from a letter written by the celebrated Dr. Samuel Johnson to the son of this admirable prelate :-"To think on Bishop Wilson with veneration is only to agree with the whole christian world. I hope to look into his books with other purposes than those of criticism, and, after their perusal, not only to write but to live better."

CHAPTER VI.

HIS BENEFICENCE.

Unskilful he to fawn, or seek for power,
By doctrines fashion'd to the varying hour:
Far other aims his heart had learn'd to prize,
More bent to raise the wretched than to rise.
His home was known to all the vagrant train,
He chid their wandering, but relieved their pain.

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He watch'd and wept, he prayed and felt for all :
And, as a bird each fond endearment tries
To tempt its new-fledged offspring to the skies,
He tried each art, reproved each dull delay,
Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way.

Deserted Village.

THE small revenues of the bishopric of Man amounted in the time of Bishop Wilson to no more than three hundred pounds a-year, and he found the lands annexed to it no better than tracts of pasturage for sheep. It soon occurred to him to turn these lands to more profitable account by husbandry; and by skilful management he soon made them produce more than was required to supply his house; a portion of the residue was bartered for such commodities as his farms did not furnish; and what remained was devoted to charitable purposes. Thus

it happened that he was able to employ considerable sums in promoting the glory of God and the good of man.

He wished to act in accordance with the sentiment which was thus expressed (we believe) by Bishop Fleetwood, "Let us proportion our alms to our incomes, lest God should proportion our incomes to our alms."

In the spirit of this maxim he always appointed a certain share of his income for pious uses, and at various intervals we find him increasing the sum thus appropriated. The following is one of his memoranda of this kind.

"Bishop's Court, Feb. 18, 1718. "To the glory of God; I find by constant experience that God will be no man's debtor. I find that I have enough and to spare; so that for the future I dedicate four tenths to pious uses, one tenth of the demesnes and customs which I receive in monies, and of my English estate as above. And the good Lord accept his poor servant in this service, for Christ's sake. Amen."

"

His charity to the poor was so enlarged that the destitute never came to his door in vain. Being told that unworthy persons were often partakers of his bounty, he replied, "I would rather give to ten unworthy, than that one deserving object should go away without relief.”Mr. Moore says in the sermon preached at the bishop's funeral, "His charity and beneficence to the poor and needy shine the brightest and most distinguished of all his other numerous virtues and graces. Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, comforting the afflicted, administering to the distresses of all-the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, these acts of humanity and christian charity were the joy, the delight, the great employment and pleasure, of his soul. And to this it was owing, that during his episcopate, no country in the christian world had fewer public beggars to be seen therein; for he kept the poor from almost everybody's doors but his own."

In order to supply the poor with clothing, he kept

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