of the people. The very manner in which it is expressed shews, that it gives the minister only the authority to pronounce the absolution and remission of the sins of such as are truly penitent, upon the warrant of God's general promises to all who truly repent and unfeignedly believe. It acknowledges even that true repentance is God's gift; and that without his Holy Spirit we can do nothing to please him, a doctrine which must be admitted to be most thoroughly Protestant.

From this point our present Morning and Evening Service is nearly the same as it was in the first Prayer-Book of Edward VI., and consists of prayers, canticles, and collects, which are taken chiefly from ancient existing Liturgies; with the exclusion, however, of whatever the Church of Rome had added that was superstitious, or that would not bear the test of Scripture. And it was surely more prudent in our Reformers to take services with which the people were already in some degree familiar, excluding from them only what was positively erroneous, rather than to unsettle their minds by forms entirely new. Many parts of the service, which are not derived from the Roman Catholic Service books, are taken from "Herman's Consultation about Reformation," which work was drawn up by Melancthon and Bucer, two unquestionably Protestant authorities, and translated into English in 1547. (See "Laurence's Bampton Lectures," p. 440.)

The changes that were made in the forms adopted from the Romish Church, will evince the Protestant, or truly Scriptural, spirit which actuated the compilers of our Liturgy; for they excluded from the prayers all addresses to the Virgin Mary, to angels, and to saints, all appeals to the intercession of any but that one appointed Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. In the constant mention, indeed, of the one only Mediator, and of him alone at the end of the prayers, there is an implied condemnation of all other mediators, and the people are perpetually reminded of a great Scripture doctrine; the general effect of which constant repetition, in preserving our people in the truth, must be great. Both negatively and positively, the Church of England protests against all unscriptural additions to the faith. In the Litany alone she has left out no fewer than one hundred and sixteen addresses to the apostles, the Virgin, and different saints; and in her succeeding services, as we shall see, when we come to examine them, she has submitted to an equally entire expurgation of all that was popish, retaining nothing but what is Scriptural and Protestant.

Even in the present order of some parts of the service, the Protestant tendency] of our Reformers is indicated, as well as in the

Rubrics or directions, which they have placed before the forms to be used. In cases where, not to break down at once long-established custom, they retained a form already in use, which was not the most eligible, they added another; and, as a general rule, no doubt, that which stands first is to be preferred. For instance, the Te Deum is to be preferred to the Benedicite: indeed, no clergyman is obliged to use the Benedicite at all now; for though, in the first Prayer-Book of Edward VI., it was ordered to be used all through Lent, in conformity with a Romish custom, this order was expunged at the subsequent revision, and has never since been restored. This omission, if it had any object, must have been intended to bring this form quietly into disuse, and such has been the general result. That clergyman, therefore, who should revive the use of this Canticle all through Lent, in the absence of any order to that effect, and with the knowledge that the order for it was positively abolished, would fly in the face of our present Prayer-Book, and make it sanction what it had tacitly condemned.

The same general observation applies to the Church's rule with respect to the Lessons. While she has allowed some parts of the Apocrypha to be read "for example of life and instruction of manners" on week-days, as being, so to speak, man's days, when any other works of human composition might be read, she has excluded it entirely from being read on Sundays, not allowing any but the Lord's own word to be heard on the Lord's own day. Not a single Apocryphal lesson is appointed to be read on any Sunday; a clear indication, as it appears to us, that it ought never to be read on a Sunday, even though that Sunday should be a saint's day.

In the large portion of Holy Scripture which is appointed to be read every Lord's Day in the Church, the great blessing of the Reformation is most apparent. Before that happy event, almost the whole service was taken up with the reading of "uncertain stories, and legends, with a multitude of responds, verses, vain repetitions and commemorations," of saints, to the almost entire neglect of the Bible; and even what was read of it, was read in an unknown tongue. Now, nothing is ordained to be read but the very pure word of God, the Holy Scriptures; and every man hears, in his own tongue, the wonderful works of God. Thus doth the Reformed Church of England stand forth continually in the character of a Protestant Church: while she witnesses to the truth by her Articles and Liturgy, she appeals openly to the Scriptures before her people, by directing their attention to them alone, as the source of all divine truth, and as supplying the only proper motives and directions for leading a holy and religious life.

GOVERNMENT SCHEME OF EDUCATION.

WE continue our extracts from the minutes of the Committee of Privy Council on Education.

SUPPORT OF NORMAL SCHOOLS.

EDUCATION OF SCHOOLMASTERS AND MISTRESSES, AND
GRANTS IN AID OF THEIR SALARIES.

Exhibitions on behalf of successful Pupil Teachers to Normal
Schools-Employment of certain of them in the Public Service,
Grants in aid of Expenses of Normal Schools, and of the Sala-
ries of Masters and Mistresses educated therein.

The Committee of Council on Education had under their consideration their lordships' minutes as to the apprenticeship of pupil teachers in elementary schools.

It appeared further expedient to their lordships, that the Lord President should authorize one or more of Her Majesty's Inspectors, together with the Principal of a normal school under inspection, to submit to his lordship, from among the pupil teachers who had successfully terminated their apprenticeship, a certain number of those who, upon competition in a public examination, to be annually held by such Inspectors and Principal in each Inspector's district, might be found most proficient in their studies and skilful in the art of teaching, and concerning whose character and zeal for the office of teachers the inspector of the district could give the most favourable report.

That the Committee of Council on Education, on comparison of the testimonials and examination papers of these apprentices, should award, for as many as they might think fit, an exhibition of £20 or £25, to one of the normal schools under the inspection of Her Majesty's Inspectors.

That the pupil teachers to whom such exhibitions should be awarded, should be thenceforth denominated "Queen's Scholars." That the exhibition should be liable to be withdrawn if the Principal of the training school should be dissatisfied with the conduct, attainments, or skill of the " Queen's Scholar."

Their lordships were also of opinion, that it might be useful to offer further incentives to exertion and good conduct among the pupil teachers, by opening to such of them as might not display the highest qualifications for the office of schoolmaster, but whose conduct and attainments were satisfactory, an opportunity of obtaining employment in the public service, under such regulations as may be hereafter adopted.

Their lordships hope that the grant of an exhibition of £20 or £25, to the most proficient pupil teachers, to enable them to enter a normal school, may diminish the difficulty, experienced by the trustees and managers of such institutions, of maintaining them in efficiency. In order still further to reduce the burden of such establishments, their lordships will award to every normal school subject to inspection a grant for every student trained therein, concerning whose character and conduct the Principal shall give a favourable report, and concerning whose attainments, skill in teaching, and general aptitude for the vocation of a schoolmaster,

it shall appear to the Lord President, at the close of each of three years of training, from the report of one or more of Her Majesty's Inspectors, and from the examination papers, that a certain standard of merit has been attained. Such grants shall be £20 at the close of the first year, £25 at the close of the second, and £30 at the close of the third year's course of instruction. This standard of acquirement shall not be so ordered as to interfere with the studies pursued in any normal school, but shall be adapted to those studies, so, however, as to apply impartially to all such normal schools an equal incentive to exertion, by requiring efficiency in a sufficient number of the studies pursued in them.

Their lordships will further grant, in aid of the salary of every schoolmaster appointed to a school under their inspection, and who has had one year's training in a normal school under their inspection, £15 or £20 per annum; and in aid of the salary of every such schoolmaster who has had two years of such training, £20 or £25 per annum; and of every such schoolmaster who has had three years of such training, £25 or £30 per annum; provided he has, upon examination, obtained the proper certificate of merit in each year, on the following conditions:

1. That the trustees and managers of the school provide the master with a house rent-free, and a further salary, equal at least to twice the amount of this grant.

2. That the trustees and managers annually certify that his character, conduct, and attention to his duties are satisfactory.

3. That the Inspector report that his school is efficient in its organization, discipline, and instruction.

On the same conditions their lordships will grant, in aid of the salaries of schoolmistresses appointed to schools under their inspection, who obtain similar certificates in a normal school, two-thirds of the sums to be awarded to schoolmasters for each year's certificate of merit.

RETIRING PENSIONS TO SCHOOLMASTERS AND MISTRESSES FOR LONG AND EFFICIENT SERVICES.

That a retiring pension may be granted by the Committee of Council to any schoolmaster or schoolmistress who shall be rendered incapable by age or infirmity of continuing to teach a school efficiently.

Provided that no such pension shall be granted to any schoolmaster or schoolmistress who shall not have conducted a normal or elementary school for fifteen years, during seven at least of which such school shall have been under inspection.

That in all cases of application for pensions a report shall be re quired from the Inspector, and from the trustees and managers of the schools, as to the character and conduct of the applicants, and the manner in which the education of the pupils under their charge has been carried on.

The amount of the pension shall be determined according to such report, but shall in no case exceed two-thirds of the average amount of the salary and emoluments annually received by the applicant during the period that the school has been under inspection.

A minute of the grant of every such pension, and of the grounds on which it has been awarded, shall be published in their lordships' minutes.

A SUNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHER'S PRAYER.

IN the "Friendly Visitor" for this month, there is an interesting memoir of a female servant. She was a Teacher in a Sundayschool. The following prayer was found amongst her papers. It had evidently been used by her, though not her own composition.

"Heavenly Father! I would now bring before thee those Sundayschool children whom thou hast put under my care. Who am I, O Lord, that thou shouldest allow me the privilege of teaching them the things which belong unto their peace? I feel my unworthiness: I acknowledge my sinfulness: of myself I can do nothing : all my sufficiency is of thee, O Lord: perfect thy strength in my weakness. As thou hast put it into my heart to undertake this blessed work, so give me grace to go on with it with a single eye to thy glory. Holy Spirit, teach me ! that I may teach the dear children under me. Make me wise to win their souls to Christ: give me patience, zeal, faith, and love. Shew me the real state of each child in my class, and enable me to speak a word to each in season. Blessed Saviour, look upon them all, and visit them with thy salvation. Bring them, one and all, into thy fold: feed thy lambs; and grant that they may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of thee, their Lord and Saviour.

"What I have asked for myself and the children of my class, I would also beg for all the children and teachers in our school, and the other schools in connection with us.

“O God, pour down upon us all the abundance of thy blessing! Grant that the children may have humble and teachable minds. Open their hearts to receive thy word, that they may be savingly impressed by its truths. May they love thy word, love to pray, love thy Sabbaths and all thine ordinances. Preserve them from the temptations of the world and the wiles of the devil. O give unto them thy Holy Spirit: draw them to thyself, and make them wholly thine. Bless the superintendents: give them wisdom, firmness, faith, love, and every other grace that they need. Bless the teachers. Let us feel more and more the value of the soul, and know more and more of the love of Christ. May the conversion of the children be the great object of our exertions; for this may we watch and pray and labour. Give unto us all the spirit of intercessory prayer: for each other and for the children in our schools; and hear this and every other petition, and answer and do for us more than we know how to ask or think, for the Redeemer's sake. Amen."