my present lot; that when Thou shalt please to remove me, (whether for the better or worse, thy will be done !) I may not repent of having done nothing which thou requirest of me. Grant this, Oh my great and bountiful Lord and Master, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen."

HIS PRAYER WHEN HE WAS ENTHRONED IN THE CATHE

DRAL OF ST. GERMAIN, IN PEEL CASTLE, APRIL 11, 1698; see p. 177.

"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 shouldst vouchsafe us such instances of thy notice and favour? I am not worthy of 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."

THE PRAYER WHICH HE USED BEFORE HIS SERMONS.

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Almighty God, maker of all things, judge of all men, graciously receive the supplications and prayers of this congregation, for themselves and for all estates and conditions of men.

"Lord, in mercy grant unto us, and unto all sinners, a true sense of our errors, and grace to amend whatever we have done amiss, that iniquity may not be our ruin.

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Let not those judgments fall upon us which our sins have justly deserved; and grant that thy great mercy and forbearance may oblige us to bring forth fruits meet for repentance.

"Have mercy upon the work of thy hands, that all the world may come to the knowledge of Thee, and of thy goodness in Jesus Christ; that all who are weary with the burthen of their sins, may know where to find rest unto their souls.

"Preserve thy church in the midst of this uncertain world, and prepare her for what thy providence shall bring forth; that neither prosperity may corrupt thy faithful servants, nor adversity discourage them from professing the truth.

"Keep this church and nation in the peaceable enjoyment of thy word and sacraments; and grant that we may live answerable to the means of grace which thy providence hath afforded us.

"Bless all the reformed churches; keep them from all wicked and dangerous errors; and bring into the way of truth all such as have gone astray; that thy kingdom, and the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, may be glorified.

"O God! whose kingdom ruleth over all, bless these nations to which we belong; that peace, and truth, and justice that true religion and piety, may be secured and countenanced; that all ignorance and profaneness, and whatever else opposeth thy Divine will made known to us, may be effectually discharged. To this end we pray God to hear us, for the king's majesty, that his days may be many, his government happy, his commands just and equal, and his people faithful and obedient:- for the royal family, that we may be blessed with a succession of princes fearing God: :-- - for all such as are in council and authority, (and especially for the high court of parlia

ment,) that they may consult the honour of God, the true interest of his church, and the welfare of the people :

for the bishops and pastors of Christ's flock, that they may constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke and oppose vice, and be living examples of those graces and virtues which they recommend to others: and the Lord Jesus Christ be always with them according to his promise; and grant unto the people of their flocks that they may profit by them daily.

"Blessed God and lover of souls, preserve, by Thy grace, those that are in the way of life; enlighten the minds of the ignorant; awaken the consciences of the careless; silence the gainsayers; convert the profane; and bring them all to Thine everlasting kingdom.

"We commend unto the tender mercy of God, all sick and dying persons; all that are in affliction of mind or body, or under any pressing calamity; all that are poor, and have none else to help them; and especially all such as suffer persecution for a righteous cause.

"Lord, pity and sanctify the miseries of this life, to the everlasting benefit of all that suffer; that the tears of the oppressed, the pains of the afflicted, the wants of the poor, may all help forward and end in the salvation of their immortal souls.

"We beseech God to hear our prayers for all those that never pray for themselves; that they may see the danger, before it is too late, of living without God in the world.

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"And God Almighty grant that we may all of us have worthy thoughts of His majesty-for His great power in creating us for His wonderful providence in preserving for His great goodness in redeeming us by Jesus Christ; for, whose doctrine and example, and for the examples of all His faithful servants, we pray God make

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us truly thankful, and grant us grace to follow their steps, that we may with them be made partakers of a blessed resurrection.

“That we may obtain these blessings, and whatever else is needful for us, let us all join, and with one heart and voice pray to God in that perfect form of words which Jesus Christ hath taught us — ‘Our Father which art in heaven,' &c."

Two of the letters which Dr. Wilson, the bishop's son, received after the publication of his father's life and writings, will give an additional interest to this memoir.

1. LETTER FROM BISHOP HORNE.

"I am charmed with the view the books afford me of the good man your father, in his diocese and in his closet. The Life, the Sacra Privata, the Maxims, the Parochialia, &c. &c. exhibit altogether a complete and lovely portrait of a christian bishop going through all his functions with consummate prudence, fortitude, and piety; the pastor and father of a happy island for near threescore years! The case is really an unique in ecclesiastical story.

"The Sermons are the affectionate addresses of a parent to his children, descending to the minutest particulars, and adapted to all their wants. In a delicate and fastidious age, they may perhaps be slighted for their plainness and simplicity; but they were just what they should be for the place and for the people. To use an illustration of his own, he is the best physician who cures the most patients and at the last great day, may they who value themselves on their learning, their elegance,