private or public nature, they were sure to meet with the best counsels and the sweetest consolations at Bishop'scourt. Even in the most delicate circumstances of domestic life, they found in their bishop a counsellor and a friend. He mentions in his private memoranda his intention of visiting the family of one of his clergy, in which he understood some unhappy disagreements prevailed, and his resolution to endeavour to heal the domestic breach, and restore peace and harmony. This minute attention to the personal and domestic comforts of his clergy marks an interest in their welfare truly paternal He distinguished with peculiar regard those of them who were faithful in the discharge of their duty, admitted them to all the familiarities of the most intimate friendship, and felt high delight in their society. Some of them, who have within these few years been removed from this imperfect state, were accustomed to speak of the venerable bishop in the glowing language of gratitude and affection; and with a kind of holy rapture to recount his virtues and enumerate his charities. His name was no sooner mentioned than the countenance began to brighten, the recollection of past days to revive, the voice to assume a softer tone, and "narrative old age" to relate a thousand acts of beneficence and piety associated with that name.

"The mention of bishop Wilson was sure to introduce an interesting and useful conversation, to bring to recollection some pious remark which he had uttered, some labour of love which he had performed, or some important advice which he had given. No wonder that his clergy should have felt such an attachment to his person, and have retained such a veneration for his memory. Their obligations to him were numerous and powerful.

"From the time they first disclosed their intention of

devoting themselves to the service of the sanctuary, he formed a connexion with them somewhat similar to that which subsisted between Eli and Samuel. He watched over their conduct, [and enjoined those who should sign their testimonials to be watchful over them,] he guided their studies, and directed their pursuits. For a year before their entrance on the holy ministry, he took them to reside in his family, that they might be continually under his inspection and have the benefit of his daily instructions. This invaluable privilege tended to form the young candidates to genuine piety and extensive usefulness. They had the advantage of a pious and enlightened instructor to assist them in the hourly prosecution of their studies, to elucidate what was obscure, to expound what was difficult, and to enforce what was important. He took particular pains to bring the young students to an accurate and distinct knowledge of the Greek Testament. They every day read a portion of it to him, and heard his remarks and observations on the passage read. He recommended to their perusal the best writers in divinity, conversed with them on the subject of personal religion, and both by precept and example laboured earnestly to render them able ministers of the New Testament.

"All their readings and studies were directed to this important end. His great desire was to form them after the model of primitive christianity, to lead them 'to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest' the Holy Scriptures, to influence them to love and live the Gospel, and to follow the steps of prophets, apostles, confessors, and martyrs, and, above all, to have the same mind in them which was also in Christ Jesus.

"A better school of divinity these candidates for the sacred office could scarcely have attended. The scrip

tural lessons which they were daily learning from their books they hourly beheld exemplified in the life of their revered instructor. The work of faith, the labour of love, the patience of hope, were continually before their eyes. Every hour presented a comment on some lesson of christianity, or an illustration of some christian grace and virtue. The conversation, the instruction, the prayers, and the example, of this apostolical prelate were admirably calculated to form zealous and useful pastors. The students under his care enjoyed peculiar advantages of a literary, moral, and religious nature. ... Without the formality of college lectures, the bishop was daily communicating the substance of such lectures in a more attractive manner and a more engaging style. His table-talk was often as instructive as the professor's dissertation, and his general conversation conveyed valuable lessons of piety."

Considering, as he once expressed it, "that the best men have sometimes need of being stirred up, that they may not lose a spirit of piety, which is but too apt to languish," he frequently addressed his clergy in circular Letters and Charges, many of which still remain to prove what an excellent and watchful friend and adviser they possessed in him.

For the same purpose he wrote a work entitled Parochialia; or Instructions to the Clergy; a treatise full of useful suggestions. It is prefaced by an admirable address to the clergy on the duty of studying the Scriptures, the necessity of personal religion, of diligence in opposing error and vice, and of privately teaching and admonishing the people. This work was written in the year 1708, but not printed for many years after. The bishop, however, circulated it by means of transcribed copies; and this circumstance may explain the purport of

the following letter which a descendant of the clergyman to whom it was written has permitted us to copy from the curious and highly interesting original manuscript.

"For the Reverend Mr. Crebbin, Vicar of Kk St. Anne. "Mr. Crebbin, June 7th, 1737.

"I send you the paper you desire, you will be careful to return it in 14 days at farthest. I have given Copys to most of the Elder Clergy. It is worth a Pastor's while to look over it, if it were but to pick out what he may think convenient to the Instruction of his Flock, for such purpose it was drawn up 30 yeares agoe, & I am now solicited to print it wth several oth' little papers relating to the Dutys of a Parochial Minister, and pray God it may answг ye end.

"I am yo' Friend & Broth",

"THO. SODOR & MAN."

Before we pass on to other matters, we will make one more extract from Mr. Stowell's work. "The clergy regarded him as their father and their friend. Some of them, whose conduct constrained him to exercise a degree of necessary severity towards them, were so fully persuaded of the purity of his motives and the kindness of his intentions, that they felt no sensation of resentment, but through life retained unbounded respect for his memory, and ever spoke of him with the highest gratitude and esteem. At the expiration of nearly half a century after his decease, aged ministers have been heard to recount the virtues of bishop Wilson with tears of affection trembling in their eyes. The memories of the descendants of the last race of clergymen in the Isle of Man are deeply impressed with the good report which they have

heard from their fathers of this reverend prelate, and to the latest posterity his deeds of charity shall be told for a memorial of him."

In the year 1707, the universities of Oxford and Cambridge honoured themselves by conferring on bishop Wilson the degree of doctor of divinity. And about the same time he became a member of the venerable Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

In 1710 business called him to England, and as all vessels from the Isle of Man were for some reason required, just at that time, to perform quarantine before entering any of the ports in England, he crossed in an open boat to Scotland, and, landing at Kirkcudbright, was persuaded by the earl of Galloway and some others to whom he was known, to visit Edinburgh, where his acquaintance was much sought after. On his departure from that city, a great number of nobility, gentry, and clergy, conducted him, nearly as far as Carlisle.

In the following year we meet with similar tokens of his good name having extended itself through the towns and villages of England. On his way to London, bearing a commission to make some arrangements relative to the excise, the people crowded round him in the places through which he passed, testifying their deep respect, and asking for his blessing. Queen Anne was delighted to see him, desired him to preach before her, and called him the silver-tongued bishop. She also offered to him an English bishopric, but he begged to be excused, saying that "with the blessing of God, he could do some good in the little spot that he then resided on; whereas, if he were removed into a larger sphere, he might be lost, and forget his duty to his flock and to his God."

The feeling which influenced him in this case is more fully declared in the Sacra Privata, in the following words.