word of Him who cannot lie, to be inflexible in that sense will always be the glory of true Protestantism. But (as we said) more is known about the Bible as the lights of contemporary history and scientific research grow clearer, and so, while our creed is the same, our apprehension is that which we can never comprehend fully so long as we know only in part, may be enlarged, and our greater light may modify our practice in many things. In all the great essentials we have the faith even as they had it who saw the apostles face to face; but no Protestant will say of many questions of detail that they are definitively settled, or that we may not hereafter change things non-essential. We speak advisedly of the light thrown on Scripture by scientific research: Cardinal Wiseman was not far wrong when he said that the Bible had created geology; and when Geology has grown out of the pettish waywardness of childhood, when Science (now misrepresented by so many of our hasty sciolists, who first settle their faith, or rather their unbelief, and then force their “fact” into agreement with it) has cut her wisdom-teeth, they will be found to be not antagonist to Religion, but amongst her choicest handmaids.

THE LIGHT-BEARERS.

IT

It may be that a living spark

Was dropp'd from Eden's flaming brand;
And kindled once at God's command,
The LIGHT has lived through all the dark.

Sometimes the Bearers bore it low,
Like lurid torch on fenny ground,
So low, the light might oft confound,
With phosphorescent cheating glow.

Sometimes it flamed, a beacon rare,
Upon the hill-tops of the land;
But wanting soon a feeding hand,
Sank into smouldering ashes there.

Sometimes from sacred altars shed,
It rose a many-colour'd fire,
And pointed, like a flaming spire,
To that blue sky which arch'd o'erhead.

Sometimes it shone a crescent mild,

Like planet under near eclipse,
Which yet with silver softly tips
A rugged scene and pathway wild.

It often lurk'd in student's room,
And lit the walls with rosy light,

And made within both warm and bright,
However deep the outer gloom.

Along the streets anon it came,

Like gas-jets, cunningly entwined,
Which light each other as the wind
Puts in and out the struggling flame.

Sometimes, a golden nimbus bright,

It circles o'er the Teacher's brow;
Yet hid for us the crown and glow
Unless we see with Spirit light.

Thank God for every kindling spark,
Thank Him for every steady ray,
Which sheds upon our shadow'd way
A light that struggles with the dark!

He chooses from His creatures still
His true Light-bearers every age,
The war with darkness here to wage,
His own great purpose to fulfil!

The Watch-Tower.

CONTENTS.

I. IN THE VICARAGE.

No. II.-OF NEWS IN TOWN AND COUNTRY

PAGE

259

II. THE NOBLE ARMY OF MARTYRS (with an Illustration). 270 III. SIN AND SORROW.

. 272

. 284

. 291

. 303

Book the First.-MARTHA'S STORY (with an Illus

VIII. OUR EMINENT LIVING DIVINES :-ARCHBISHOP OF

CANTERBURY by the Author of the

"LIFE OF

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