of Sir Edward Hungerford and Lady Margaret, his wife, exquisitely sculptured in white marble; the one in complete armour, the other in a flowing dress. The workmanship, as well as the materials, is of the most costly description.

Divine service was performed in this chapel till within the last century; and the Bible (in black letter) and the chalice still remain ; the former in the pulpit, and the latter on the altar, which is of dark-veined marble. Round the cover of the communion cup, which appears to be of walnut, and contains a place at the top for the consecrated wafer, are the following lines ::

"Worthy it is and joyfull for to see

Those whom the Lord doth bless with store of wealth, That will in euery good worke fruitfull be:

God prosper in peace and joy and health :

Blessed are the mercyful."

Round the rim of the cup :

"The pure

in heart do find true drinke indeede :

They have a great delight God's word to heare:

His Spirit thereby their soules doth liuely feede,
Assuring them of endles joy most deare."

Round the lower part is, "Beati pacifici," and under it,—

"This good assurance in this lyfe they finde;

Being sound regenerate & renewed in minde,
By the power of Christ's death and resurrection."

Round the verge of the stand,—

"They dy to sinne, and rise to a new lyfe:

On heauenly things they set their whole affection;
Contemning earthly vanitise so rife:

That is to them an infallible token:

They graft in Christ shall neuer of be broken:
They haue true faith working by sincere loue:
In all good works they not vnfruitful proue."

On the cup are the royal arms, and other devices, with the date of 1620.

The walls of the chapel are decorated with all kinds of

ancient armour; shields, pikes, spears, halberts, spurs, lances, swords, daggers, several curious battle-axes, a Scotch claymore, or two-handed sword, an ancient crossbow, a Saxon sword, and a curious spur, called Oliver Cromwell's spur. There is likewise an old pair of boots, formerly worn by Sir Thomas Gresley, who died June 5th, 1699.

In the crypt, under the chapel, are deposited eight leaden coffins, containing the embalmed bodies of eight of the Hungerfords, ranged by the side of each other. These coffins bear a strong similitude in shape and general appearance to the cases of Egyptian mummies. The features of a face, in bold relief, are distinctly formed upon them; and the form of the body is as much preserved as possible; the coffin tapering gradually from the shoulders to the feet. There was formerly an urn of lead containing the bowels of the embalmed persons; this, however, was stolen from the vault on the night of Wednesday, February 20th, 1822.

In Farley Castle was born, August 14th, 1473, "the last of the Plantagenets," the unfortunate Margaret, daughter to George Duke of Clarence, and niece to Edward the Fourth and Richard the Third. Her brother, Edward Earl of Warwick and Salisbury, having been attainted and put to death by Henry the Seventh, she petitioned the Parliament for his estates; which were granted. She married Sir Richard Pole, from whom descended Henry Lord Montague, and Cardinal Pole, who were the most noted of her children. The latter was the chief cause of all the calamities which eventually befel herself and family; his political conduct, in the capacity of Pope's Cardinal, having excited the suspicion and revenge of Henry the Eighth. Lord Montague was beheaded on a charge of treason in 1538; and his mother met the same fate in the tower of London, May 27th, 1541, after a close confinement of two years in prison. Her execution was attended with shocking circumstances: she refused to kneel at the block; and the executioner, dragging her by the hair of her head, was obliged to confine her forcibly, while he performed his dreadful duty. GEORGE PRYCE.

Bristol.

366

No. XI.

"Then they knew that the island was called Melita." Acts xxviii. 1.

We live in a changing world; but the God whom we worship never changes. Man may be a means of improving the soil; he may build cities and castles; and these change their inhabitants: but God is "the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." His providence, in the accomplishing of his purposes, advances with slow but certain steps, A thousand years in his sight are but as yesterday. Reflections of this kind occupied my mind as we approached the isle of Malta, formerly called Melita. It is a rock in the midst of the Mediterranean Sea, about fifty miles from Sicily. Mount Etna is seen at times from Malta. It is twenty miles long, twelve broad, and sixty in circumference; and produces cotton, and excellent fruit. Many times has it changed its masters. Phenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Goths, Saracens, Sicilians, in former times, successively had possession of it. It was ceded, in 1525, to the Knights of St. John, of Jerusalem. Buonaparte took it in 1798; but since 1800 the British flag has been seen on its forts. The knights built the famous city of Valetta, in the time of the Grand Master, La Valette; as also the numerous forts, bastions, and batteries, with which it is adorned. The providence of God has been pleased to give this isle to Great Britain; and many are the advantages arising from our possession of it. It is the London of the Mediterranean. Here our ships come to receive supplies, both ships of war and merchantmen; and from this isle the neighbouring shores are supplied with the bread of life. The British and Foreign Bible Society have a depôt at Malta, from which books are sent to the coast of Barbary, to Alexandria, up the Egyptian countries, to the isles of Greece, to the Morea, and sometimes to the continent. Here are three mission presses, which have sent forth immense numbers of books of different kinds. Here the Missionary finds people who show no small kindness. After

こ

traversing barren sands, or crossing tempestuous seas, he enters this port with the satisfaction and confidence that he will be received with hospitality. He mingles his praises with the congregation of the righteous, takes sweet counsel with his brethren in the work of God, and goes to his station with fresh resolutions to persevere in his arduous toil. It was about noon when the master of the vessel in which I sailed came down from the mast head, and said he saw land. Soon we beheld, from the deck, the white rock; and nearer and nearer we approached, until the firing of cannon was heard; soon after the ringing of the bells was heard; the houses were seen; the pilot-boats came, and conducted us safely into the quarantine harbour. Here we cast anchor; and were thankful, after a stormy voyage, to be brought safely to port. "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, praise his holy name!"

Zante.

Amen.

W. O. C.

PRINCIPLES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION.

(Concluded from page 336.)

Q. 161. What are the ordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost? A. All those gracious influences, by means of which sinners are enlightened, convinced, converted, sanctified, and saved.

Q. 162. Were these influences always necessary to the salvation of sinners?

A. Yes; they were necessary, and were granted, under the patriarchal and the Jewish dispensations. The Spirit of God strove with the antediluvian sinners, in the days of Noah. The Spirit was given to the Israelites; and by them was often resisted and vexed. These influences were necessary, and were granted, in the early ages of Christianity; and they are equally necessary now.

Q. 163. Why have they always been necessary?

A. Because man is a fallen creature,-ignorant, depraved, guilty, helpless; his understanding blinded; his judgment

perverted; his will averse to good, and prone to evil; his heart hardened; his conscience stupified; his affections earthly and impure.

To imagine that man may be saved without divine influence is as absurd as to imagine, that a corrupt tree may bear good fruit; that a bad cause may produce good effects that darkness may give birth to light, and pollution to purity; that weakness may perform actions which evince the greatest power; and that love to God may spontaneously spring up in a heart which is influenced by a principle of enmity against God.

Although, through the atonement and intercession of Christ, provision has been made for the salvation of sinners, that provision, without the influences of the Holy Spirit, would be unavailing. For men would remain unconscious of their guilt and danger, and unwilling to abandon their sins: they would not feel their need of salvation; and, of course, would not seek after it.

Q. 164. What peculiar advantage, in reference to the gift of the Holy Ghost, is enjoyed under the Christian dispensation?

A. In virtue of the sacrifice and atonement of Jesus Christ, and in answer to his prayers, the Holy Ghost has been sent forth in more abundant effusions and more powerful manifestations of his influences, than were ever previously known. Hence the apostle John, explaining the language of our Lord at Jerusalem, on the last day of the feast of tabernacles, observes, "The Holy Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified;" that is, the Holy Ghost was not given so fully, so freely, in so abundant a measure, in so remarkable a way, till after the resurrection and ascension of Christ.

Hence the Christian dispensation is termed emphatically, "the ministration of the Spirit ;" and we are taught, that it is the privilege of Christian believers to walk in the Spirit ; to be led by the Spirit; to live in the Spirit; to be filled with the Spirit; and to have the Spirit of God dwelling within them. As the promise of the Messiah was the chief