CHURCH OF ENGLAND MAGAZINE. rebellious hearts; neither do we say, let us now fear the Lord God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter in his season; he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of harvest (Jer. v. 23, 24; ii. 6). The awe with which the heathens regard their idols is well known-" hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods" (Jer. ii. 11)? With what fury would they rush to revenge the least insult offered to their senseless object of worship, and with what zeal would they protect a piece of wood or stone (Ps. cxv. 5, 6, 7) from the fury of their enemies. Now if, in turning from these worshippers of Baal and Moloch, we next consider the actions of those to whom a revelation from on high has been vouchsafed, and who consequently possess the knowledge of the true God, and are acquainted with his attributes should we not expect to witness a similar zeal and attachment evinced, differing only in its fervour and extent? Should we not suppose that every professor of such a religion, and every inhabitant of the land in which the truth is known, would be ever watchful and vigilant to espy, and at once to resent, the indignities which might be given to their God, and to his worship? But, as the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light, so those who are positively sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, may put a Christian people to the blush, when they remember their lukewarmness "to the God of gods," and the feebleness of their ardour in defending his cause. And thus, alas! not only are men found who dare to speak blasphemy, and to talk against the Most High, but their works, instead of being at once suppressed, are suffered to multiply; and it would seem that men even desire the presence and kingdom of Satan instead of God's, by the encouragement which is given to his "amanuenses," and the eagerness with which their works are devoured. And the very titles of their books, which are but so many black flags too plainly announcing the awful presence of pestilence -and which should therefore warn us from approaching, lest we also fall victims to its ravages so far from accomplishing their proper end, seem more surely to allure men to the very spot of disease, where, if they obstinately continue-notwithstanding entreaties, remonstrances, and divine commands -they must meet with inevitable destruction. (To be continued.) THE CLERGYMAN'S WIDOW.* THE reflecting portion of the world sympathise heartily with the sorrows of the widow; and of the sorrows and varieties of trials connected with all the varied classes of widows, the pensive part of the public have a correct idea; but there is one class of widows whose peculiar kind of change, distress, and desolation, is but rarely touched upon by those who draw on the sympathies of mankind; and yet of all the tribes of mourners, who may say to those who may pass by," Is there any sorrow like unto my sorrow?" the widows of the clergy are that most afflicted class; between them and other widows there are no few shades of difference; there is a change-a sad change to all-but to them most of all. The wife of the clergyman, like the clergyman himself, holds no fixed place among the various grades of society; if humble, she is not even versant among the aristocratic branches of society; if wise, she is more generally found among the middle classes; and, if useful, not unfrequently does she mix with those accounted poor, in the world's eyes; if gentle and prudent, she walks among all acceptably, unflattered by the attentions of the noble, yet not ungrateful; and, visiting the poor, is yet uninjured by contact with the lowly. The pastor is still more free, and less affected by caste; to-day the guest of nobles, to-morrow on mountain and moor, the visitor of the windswept hut, he sits with the peasant and the peasant's children; travel, and the free wind of heaven, have given a relish to the humble food which is timidly yet affectionately offered; and, if he partakes with the poor man of oaten cake or the more humble potato, a sacred blessing on his honoured head goes up from the host, and from that poor household; and the pastor returns homeward, not less a pastor, nor less suited for the work of the ministry, nor yet for mingling with the great-because, like his heavenly Master, he loved the poor, and because the poor "ministered to him of their substance." Blessed be God! hundreds of such pastors are around and increasing. How honoured the wives of such-they live in an atmosphere of blessedness— every day they hear the claims of the poor to the relief of which they are enabled by their influential position to be auxiliary-they hear the voice of grateful acknowledgment—their home is trodden by the feet of numerous wealthy and kindly parishioners ;— they are familiar with every parochial movement, and are favoured by the Christian friendship and intercourse of surrounding ministers-their children grow up amid the kindness and attention of many-should even a trifling ailment visit their home, the knock of affectionate inquiry is frequent-should any want be manifested, it is often eagerly yet delicately supplied. The pastor's wife is happy amidst all this din of usefulness, kindliness, and comfort; and, if her husband be faithful in the pulpit, and from house to house, and if her own heart responds to every gospel promise, and rejoices in every prospect of souls won from death to life, then indeed are her "lines cast in pleasant places."" Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name!" From the Ulster Times. means. The widow of a pastor who lived generously and affectionately towards the temporal and spiritual wants of men, is, indeed, a desolate object; soon does the tide of sympathy ebb, and what remains is dried up in the revolving years that pass on, until the once loved, honoured, widely-known, and greatly happy, as the pastor's wife, becomes forgotten; other preachers have arisen more gifted, more adapted to rising exigences; new plans have obliterated the old, new Thus full and overflowing is the cup of her happi- | and many a clergyman's widow has no home, no ness-it is even dangerous in its ingredients, for like every other prosperity, and, akin to all of the machinery of devotedness, is the hazard of decreasing spirituality; be this as it may, the wife of the pastor is happy, honoured, and blessed among women: days dawn in usefulness and prayer, and close in gratitude and peace; the sweet incense of holy prayer floats in the wide atmosphere, and penetrates from the parsonage to the remote and most lowly of the habitations of the flock; in one blessed volume of adoration the hearts of all are made one; and what heart so happy, know-generations arise; by little and little the old stock ing its own gladness, as is the heart of the pastor's wife? But suppose that the process of years had silently -fleetly rolled on-and that the desk and pulpit must know its transient possessor no more; suppose, "full of years and honours, the aged man of God," like a ripe shock of corn," is to be gathered to his predecessors and that she-the loved and faithful friend of his bosom, witness and softener of his trials-is to survive; or let us suppose a case not unfrequent-that, in the midst of life's vigour and most energetic usefulness, the pastor is summoned to give an account of his stewardship-and the woman, still young, and expecting ought else than this, is suddenly bereaved; long, long does it appear but a dream, and tears seem unnecessary, the apparatus of death and the viduate array are but as a dream only; slowly and wearily the vision is invested with substantiality, and bitter truth demonstrates that it is simple, awful "matter of fact," the voice silent; the flock deserted-the house masterless-the kind, and the true, and the faithful, departed; her joys clouded-her hopes withered her babes orphans and she a widow ! A few brief weeks and the glebe-house must be resigned, the sunny lawn where the children sported, the garden, with its endless pleasure, and the flowers which the children had planted, and on which the departed had smiled, each thing familiar is to be forsaken, and the world is all before her-her children partake of her bitterness; and in their fond memories, in after years, revert to the possession which, for a season, was theirs. Cowper, apostrophizing bis beloved parent's picture, and full of the reminiscences of scenes where early childhood strayed," writes thus: "Where once we strayed our name is heard no more; But at the moment when widowhood is new, and drops off, and after many years the widow gazes on her husband's church, and wonders how strange all things have become, since many know not of olden glories and benefits, for they were but children then; others have ceased to remember them, and she is a widow. The writer of this article at one time learned that he lived in the neighbourhood of one such as he now describes. Her husband had been one of eloquence and popularity in his day. Families, in baptizing their children, were wont to call them by the pastor's beloved name. His widow survived him some thirty years. At the time of the writer's visit she was not far distant from the "better land." She was very lonely; a humble habitation, a prophet's chamber in its furniture, the bible of ancient days on the table; that bible, and an aged servant, all that had stood by her! and there she sat, day after day, "forgetting the world, by the world forgot;" her very existence forgotten, and it was happy work to kneel beside that widow indeed, and, though not of her household of faith, yet loving her for her Master's sake, and for the sake of the work with which her husband was connected, to pour forth prayer on her behalf to the God of the widow. She appeared to be greatly comforted, and doubtless many hurried and vivid remembrances were busy in her lone mind. Not long after the papers announced the death of Mrs. and some who read expressed astonishment, and said, "they thought she had been dead many years!" The families of preachers are often the worst attended to, and, while their flocks, "have bread to spare," their own little ones may be hungry. They are also often engaged in plans so gigantic, in studies so profound, in labours so multifarious, that they are too apt to forget "what the end may be," the sickness and the sorrow, the mourning congregation, the eyes of many tears, the dismissal of chancel, and pulpit, and vestry, and committee; the platform trodden by other feet, the meeting hushed before other voices, the hearts occupied by other messengers of truth, and the shroud and coffin, the portion of their earthly tabernacle, while wife and little ones, to use the language of the beautiful chaunt of Wolff "sit alone and weep." THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD. BY THE AUTHOR OF "TALES OF THE MARTYRS." No. VI. THE MINISTRY OF ANGELS AND THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS. THE human mind, taken as a whole, has peculiar characteristics, which mark the different stages of its existence. In childhood, it is naturally credulous; everything is alike novel and alike believed. The revulsion that follows in youth tends to the opposite extreme; gradually subsiding, as manhood brings juster views of things and more modest ones of its own judgment, into the medium of mature understanding. In the world at large, and in particular nations, we may trace something of the same kind of progress, especially obvious in the subjects we are about to consider. In this our own country, we have passed through the stage when wood and plain, hill and valley, the lonely tower and the deserted hut, were peopled with imaginary beings, and have arrived at that period when, as if ashamed of our former credulity, we think to show superior discernment by scoffing at as ridiculous the feeling which, spite of such scoffing, is too inherent in man to be thoroughly eradicated, that around us on every side "Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth Unseen, both when we wake and when we sleep." The trusting simplicity of childhood is ever nearer true wisdom than the self-conceited scepticism of just emancipated youth; so, in this case, it will be found, when the fanciful and occasionally fearful superstitions of our ancestors shall be succeeded by a sober, and earnest, and heart-felt conviction of that ministry of angels, and of that communion of saints, which the bible teaches, and which the church professes to believe, and makes the subject of her prayers. To the ministry of angels the bible refers continually. In the Old Testament, angels are constantly spoken of as appearing unto man-to warn, to admonish, and to console; in the New Testament, we find an angel announcing the coming, both of the Lord Jesus and of his forerunner, John; and, at the birth of the Holy Child, a multitude of the heavenly host are seen by mortal eyes and heard by mortal ears, changing night into day by the brightness shining round about, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men" (Luke xi. 14). Angels appear at the sepulchre and at the ascension; an angel visibly releases Peter, while their invisible ministry is inculcated in both. "The angel of the Lord," says David, "encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them" (Psalm xxxiv. 7). St. Paul, speaking of the angels, asks as of a well-established fact-"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation" (Heb. i. 14)? In these latter days the ministry of angels is invisible. We are taught that it ever has been chiefly so, although, during those more obscure ages which preceded the coming of our Saviour, and till the revelation of the gospel was completed, they did frequently appear unto men: but the holy book is finished; Jesus Christ himself has been clearly revealed; the way of salvation made plain before us; and our proximity to the spiritual world is to be learned only from spiritual evidence-to be known only by faith." And thus," remarks dean Brevint, "men may think now that the world is destitute of angels, because they do not appear so often as they did in ancient times, in the shape and forms of men*." Men may think so. As well, when the sun has arisen and the stars gradually faded from our sight, we may look up to the illumined sky and say, no stars are there. We cannot trust to our eyes in natural objects, which, day after The Christian Sacrament and Sacrifice, sect. vi. 1. day and night by night, have been familiar to us from childhood; and, because God's winged messengers, who, in the twilight of the Jewish church, occasionally put on forms that might be discerned, now that the Sun of Righteousness has arisen, wear only their own ethereal garb, shall we, upon the strength of our limited bodily vision, venture to gaze around and say that angels are not here? Let us not be persuaded into the idea, that this is a subject beyond our present comprehension, and theretemplation than any minute discussion; but the bible would not inculcate it so constantly were it not for our soul's good: the church would not set apart a day for its especial consideration, unless it were calculated to lead her children to something better than barren speculation and unedifying conjecture. Rather, when we find any doctrine or duty, thus enforced in the bible and especially brought forward by the church, falling into habitual neglect, we may justly suspect such neglect to arise from the too successful machinations of the world; rather let us, in this instance, seek, in all humility and lowliness, to follow the in junction of the wise son of Sirach, who, while warn ing us, "Seek not out the things that are too hard for thee, neither search the things that are above thy strength" (Eccles. iii. 21)-immediately adds-" Bu. what is commanded thee, think thereupon with rever ence" (22). Not too high, not an overwhelming, but a most ennobling contemplation for every huma soul, is this ministry of angels. A vision, like to that of Jacob's, dawns upon the spirit as we contemplatea vision of bright heavenly beings descending and ascending to and from this lower earth. Angels appear no longer as the unknown inhabitants of some far-distant region; they are our spiritual friends, ever near, and separated only by a fragile screen of flesh, which an hour, a moment, may dissolve. Angels rejoice over our repentance, watch our progress, are appointed by God, in some manner imperceptible to us, to aid us in difficulties, and to defend us in danger. Well may the world seek to prevent our dwelling upon a thought so calculated to make all she can threaten and offer, sink into a mere nothing. The church endeavours to impress such thought upon our minds, not only by bringing forward the ministry of angels as taught in the bible, and by an occasional mention of them in the prayers, but by devoting the service of one day to this particular branch of God's revealed providence. In the portion of scripture appointed for the epistle on that day, and in the second lesson for the evening, we are reminded that we have spiritual enemies as well as spiritual friends; powers of darkness to strive against, as well as princes of light to contend for us. "O everlasting God, who hast ordained and constituted the services of angels and men in a wonderful order, mercifully grant, that, as thy holy angels alway do thee service in heaven, so, by thy appointment, they may succour and defend us on earth, through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Saint Michael and all angels). fore better left. It is one more suited for calm con Our second subject, in its connexion with the first, leads us to consider the relation in which we stand to the departed saints. The bible no where distinctly informs us of them, as of the angels, that they are cognizant of what is going on on earth; but it does teach us that they forget not those they have left behind, and both the bible and the church instruct us that it becomes us not to forget them. The world, endeavouring by every means to chain our thoughts and affections to earth, may strive to wean us from the memory of the dead-may insinuate that we owe this as a duty to the living; but very different is the language of the church. She encourages no excessive or inconsolable grief; for, while committing to the earth the remains of one who has been taken away, she reminds the survivors that they "are not to be sorry, as We men without hope, for them that sleep in Jesus;" but she comforts upon a principle very contrary to the world. Her consolation-and it is the only consolation worthy the disciples of him "who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Tim. i: 10)—is derived, not from forgetting, but from dwelling ever upon them as absent only in the body, but still closely united in the spirit. The church has provided, that on every Sunday and holyday we shall "bless God's holy name, for all his servants departed this life in his faith and fear; beseeching him to give us grace so to follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of his heavenly kingdom." And, as week by week the hearts of a Christian congregation echo this blessing and this prayer, every heart involuntarily turning to some that have been known and loved on earth, and mingling with the remembrance of them, thoughts of the wise and holy, known and loved in their characters and writings, and of those preeminently the saints of God, whom our church teaches us to venerate as such; so far from time weakening the bond that bound us to the former, it will gradually grow stronger, as well as more expansive, till we can realize in our own feelings St. Paul's expression of "the whole family in heaven and earth" (Ephes. iii. 15). To this realization it is evidently the wish of the church to lead her children. cannot open the prayer-book without perceiving the great care with which she has provided for the due observance of every saint's day, by appointing an appropriate collect, epistle, gospel, and lessons for each. The collects show us why this care has been taken. It is not merely to do honour to the memory of the saints, although the church teaches us that they who have been made the instruments of conveying to us the truths of the gospel and whose "praise is there," ought to be held in affectionate reverence by all who embrace that gospel; but it is that we may contemplate their characters in order to profit by their example. That when we commemorate the martyrdom of St. Stephen we may pray, " that, in all our sufferings here upon earth, we may stedfastly look up to heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed;" when that of the Innocents, we may beg of God to "mortify and kill all vices in us, and so strengthen us by his grace, that, by the innocency of our lives, and constancy of our faith, even unto death, we may glorify his holy name," even as those blessed children were permitted to do. That we may learn with St. James, to "forsake all worldly and carnal affections," and with St. Matthew, "all covetous desires and inordinate love of riches;" and with both, to be "obedient without delay, unto the calling of our Lord Jesus Christ," and to be "evermore ready to follow his holy commandments.” That, in contemplating the character of the holy apostle Barnabas-that "good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith"-we may be led to desire the "singular gifts" with which he was endued, and earnestly to beseech God "not to leave us destitute of those manifold gifts, nor yet of grace to use them alway to his honour and glory." On St. Mark's day, we are reminded to consider the value of the heavenly doctrine he taught, and to pray that, "being not like children, carried away with every blast of vain doctrine, we may be established in the truth of the holy gospel." On that of St. Simon and St. Jude, we are led to contemplate the "church built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the head cornerstone;" and the beauty and seemliness of being "joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine" is thence impressed. On All Saints' day-the day dedicated to the memory of all who sleep in Jesus, from Abel, the first of Adam's race who found the death which must have struck the survivors with such unmitigated horror, changed by the merits of the Holy "Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world," into life eternal, down to the last soul departed-perchance that very hour, whose sin and" defilement, contracted in the midst of this miserable and naughty world," have been "purged and done away" with the blood of the same precious sacrifice—on that day, how invigorating to the faith and charity, how enlivening to the hope of those still wending on their earthly pilgrimage, to join in the prayer of our church-"O Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; grant us grace so to follow thy blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which thou hast prepared for them that unfeignedly love thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord." With respect to angels and departed saints, the world has ever taken opposite extremes with Christians; on the one hand, leading an age, a nation, or a community, as the case may be, to render unto them the honour due to God alone; on the other, persuading them from a dread of this idolatry to neglect, with even a species of contempt, every demonstration of regard for, and communion with, the holy and exalted beings whom we are invited to regard as brethren. With the former of these we are probably brought little into contact: the latter prevails amongst ourselves-so prevails that, with most, the very name of a day dedicated to the angels or to a saint, seems to be looked upon but as the relic of a past superstition. Meanwhile the church continues in her prayer-book quietly to bear witness against both these extremes. She teaches us to reverence them-but it is with a reverence, not derogating from, but redounding to, the praise and glory of God. We are to honour them, because God has put honour upon them; we are to love them, because they are right dear in the sight of the Lord;" we are to cherish their memory, because it is written in the book of God, that "the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance" (Psalm cxii. 6). The communion of saints-that communion by which, whether in heaven or on earth, "we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another" (Rom. xii. 5)-is one of the articles of the Christian faith, of which the church requires a profession of belief in all who become her members. We see how earnest are her endeavours to make this belief, not a mere barren assent, but a strong and living principle, purifying our souls from the corruptions of this lower world, raising them above its frivolous pursuits and heartless pleasures, and leading us to cling with more entire dependence to him who can alone make "us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light" (Col. 12). Well, indeed-when we compare ourselves with them-well may we magnify his power who is able, and his mercy who is willing to do this. When we consider their unreserved devotion to God, how they "counted all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus" (Philip. iii. 8); their faith, so earnest that afflictions moved them not, neither reckoned they their lives dear unto themselves, so that they might finish their course with joy" (Acts xx. 24); their deep humility, their fervent charity: when we remark the effects of the gospel upon them, "what carefulness it wrought in them, yea what fear, yea what vehement desire, yea what zeal" (2 Cor. vii. 11), and then turn to ourselves, who dwell in the light of the same gospel, have the assistance of the same Holy Spirit, are equally near, through Christ our Intercessor, to the same God, who now as then will, if any man lack wisdom and ask of him, give liberally, and upbraid not" (James i. 5)— we feel that to us belongeth only "shame and confusion of face." A world in arms could not daunt or overcome them; "nay, they were more than conque.ots through him that loved them" (Rom. viii. 37). Feeble as we are, and fallen from their high example, yet let that example encourage us to resist in the might of the same love, whatever weapons of deceit and guile, of ridicule or reproach, the world may assault with now. This is the conclusion drawn by the inspired apostle from contemplating the sufferings and constancy of those who were before him; and the church, by appointing it for one of her lessons on All Saints' day, has taught us to apply it to the whole body of the redeemed-"Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of wit nesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us; looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb. xii. 1, 2). That the angels are included in these witnesses by whom we are compassed about, is evident from the verses which follow in the same chapter-" For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched; but ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels; to the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant (18, 22, 23, 24). "What manner of persons, then, ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness (2 Pet. iii. 11)? Admitted into the church of Christ, we are, it appears, admitted into the fellowship of angels and of saints. Blessed and glorious privilege! How blessed, even in our present state of imperfect communion, could but our souls, in their daily breathings, accord with the devout language of the church, when, in the office in which she brings her children nearest unto God, she claims for them that privilege "Therefore, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name, evermore praising thee, and saying, holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts! heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, O Lord, most high!" SUPERSTITIONS OF THE IRISH ROMANISTS. A VERY interesting history of the church of Ireland has been lately published, by the bishop (Mant) of Down and Connor. A lamentable picture is there given of the blighting influence of popery upon the inhabitants of that country. Popery knows how to suit itself to time, and place, and circumstance; where knowledge at all prevails, it masks in the light its grosser features; but, amid the darkness of ignorance and irreligion, it ventures on pretensions, and imposes a yoke which must constrain its unhappy votaries to the worst mental bondage. Some facts shall be produced from bishop Mant's book, which will, I am inclined to think, startle many a protestant reader, especially when he is informed that, though they occurred, as it is said, many centuries ago, they are at the present time authorized by the Romish church, and a belief in them taught in the seminary of Maynooth. oil upon her head, thus pre-figuring the future purity and holiness of the virgin. Arriving at the first years of childhood, she so earnestly, from the bottom of her heart, clung to Christ the Saviour, whom she chose for her spouse, that for love of him she expended on the poor whatever she could acquire. And, lest the suitors, by many of whom on account of her incomparable beauty she was sought in marriage, should compel her to break the vow of virginity by which she had bound herself to God, she prayed God to make her deformed; and presently she was heard, for one of her eyes immediately became swollen, and her whole face was so altered, that she was permitted to send back a message to her suitors, and to consecrate her virginity to Christ by a solemn vow. Having then taken to her three maidens, she proceeded forth to the bishop Macheas, St. Patrick's disciple, who, seeing over her head a pillar of fire, put on her a shining vest and a white robe, and, having read holy prayers, admitted her to the canonical profession, which the blessed Patrick had introduced into Ireland. Whereupon, whilst she was stooping her head to receive the sacred veil, when she had touched with her hand the wood at the foot of the altar, that dry wood on a sudden became green again, and her eye was healed, and her face restored to its pristine beauty. And afterwards, by her example, such a multitude of maidens embraced that institution of a regular life, that in a short time it filled all Ireland with convents of virgins; amongst which, that over which Brigid herself presided was the chief, and on that as their head all the rest depended." Another of these pretended miracles is related in the ecclesiastical history of Carew, professor of divinity at Maynooth. "The extraordinary veneration which St. Malachy entertained for St. Patrick, St. Brigid, and St. Columba, made him anxious to discover the grave where the bodies of those holy persons reposed. But every effort which his ingenuity could devise proved unavailing, for no memorial remained which could assist him in the enquiry. All human means having failed, the good bishop had recourse to prayer, and with a holy importunity he earnestly besought God to make known to him the place in which the earthly remains of those three distinguished favourites of heaven were deposited. The prayer of the venerable prelate was at length favourably heard. On a certain night, while he offered up in the church his fervent petition to the Almighty, a ray of light, like a sunbeam, was seen by him to pass along the church until it reached a particular part of the temple, when it ceased to advance. Persuaded that heaven had chosen this mode to reveal to him the subject which he so ardently desired to know, St. Malachy caused the place to which his attention had been thus drawn, to be immediately examined. His exertions were rewarded with the success they so well deserved; for, when the earth was removed, the bodies of the three saints were found deposited together in the same grave. By the bishop's direction the precious remains were then raised up, and placed in coffins which he had provided for them. As soon as this ceremony was completed, the bodies were consigned to the same tomb." Afterwards, however, the relics were transferred to a more honourable place of |