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breathes the fervent love for God's house, and the earnest longing after its services, which filled the soul of the writer. He who penned it was for some unexpressed reason-perhaps from captivity in a foreign land -debarred from going up, as he had formerly been in the habit of doing, to the Lord's temple; and, in ardent words, he pours forth his sense of the blessedness of those who enjoyed the privilege denied to him. Even the birds that build their nests about the temple-courts seem to him objects of envy. To be the meanest servant—even a doorkeeper in the house of his God, to stand at its entrance and admit others to its courts-is a blessing to be coveted. But their happiness is the greatest who have the Lord's house for their habitation; whose home is beneath the shadow of its hallowed roof, or within its sacred courts. If to visit it for a brief period three times a-year was a blessing, the loss of which filled his soul with earnest longing, what must it be to dwell there always? Blessed'-thrice blessed-are they that dwell in Thy house, they will be still praising Thee.'

And surely, when weighed aright, not less is your blessedness, my brethren, who are called to minister to God as chief singers and musicians in our churches. Let nothing tempt you to despise or undervalue it. If you do not actually-like the Levites and ministers of the Temple-dwell in God's house, your office calls you to spend much time there; and the higher your esteem for God's house, the greater will be your experience of the blessedness of those who dwell in it. The service which is a weariness to those who fulfil it as a mere professional duty to be got over and have done with, will be your delight; and you will think no care or pains excessive which may tend to make it more worthy of the temples in which it is your privilege to minister, and of the Great Being worshipped therein. Nothing will be insignificant in your eyes which can help or hinder the glory of God and the edification of the worshippers. It is a principle of the human mind, that the more care and trouble we bestow on any object the more we love it; and the more we love it, the more enjoyment do we derive from it. If you wish to feel the full blessedness of your choral service of song in the house of the Lord, you must give your hearts, your thoughts, your pains to it.

But we have yet to speak of that which constituted the chief blessedness of the temple-dwellers in the Psalmist's eyes; that they are the appointed utterers of God's praise. 'Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house, they will be still praising Thee.' Praise is the very highest of all the employments in which the faculties of man can be exercised. It is a higher act of devotion than prayer, than intercession, than thanksgiving. It is the voice of the sinner at peace with God, pardoned and reconciled through our Lord Jesus Christ, with his whole being lost in God, his every faculty absorbed in the contemplation of what God has done, and still more of what He is as revealed to us in His works, His Word, and above all, in His Son; setting forth with the noblest powers given to him by God the greatness, and goodness, and glory of the Infinite and Unsearchable One. Praise will last when prayer and intercession shall cease. Here, encompassed with infirmity, prayer must be our chief work. But it is the earthliest form of worship. In Heaven they have, and praise. What room for prayer when the Lord has granted 'our desire and fulfilled all our mind'

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(Ps. xx. 4), when there is no more want because there is no more sin? But praise will ever be the highest and most perfect work of all living spirits, and will flow forth unceasingly from the voices of angels and saints made perfect before the throne of God.

And if any other consideration were needed to show the solemn and exalted nature of praise, it would be given by those other words of the Psalmist in which he addresses God as 'Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel' (Ps. xxii. 3). God's dwelling-place His Church's praise! How glorious, how awe-inspiring the thought! The high and holy One that inhabiteth eternity deigns to dwell in and occupy the praises of His creatures, to make them His home, His abode !' Oh, if the knowledge that our bodies are the temples of the living God is the most powerful argument for their sanctification by temperance, soberness, and chastity, what consideration should be more influential with you, the recognised utterers and conductors of the Church's service of praise in its highest form, than that these poor, feeble, imperfect praises of yours are the shrine and sanctuary of the Most High God! The Lord said that He would dwell in the thick darkness' (1 Kings, viii. 12), invisible, unrecognisable. He does dwell in your praises, inhabit your chants, and canticles, and anthems, to be seen and known in His grace and glory. 'If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy' (1 Cor. iii. 17).

And thus we pass from the blessedness to the perils of your service: from its exceeding great and precious privileges to its responsibilities, its trials, its dangers. The two are inseparable. The higher in office the more difficult our work; the wider and more fatal the consequences of any neglect and failure of which we may be guilty.

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Happily, so great is the change in this respect from what it was even in living memory, that no words of mine are needed to enforce the absolute necessity of the strictest temperance, sobriety, and purity of life on those who are called to stand so near to God. We all feel that those who have anything to do with the service of the Holy One -how much more the chief singers of His house!-should seek to imitate His holiness: with their lives and conversations free from stain or scandal, giving no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 'Holiness,' cleanness of hands, and purity of heart, and guardedness of Be clean that bear the speech, becometh His house for ever.' vessels of the Lord' (Ps. xciii. 5; Isa. lii. 11): much more ye that sing His praises. And for you, my brethren, as for all who will lead a godly life, great care and watchfulness are required. We all have our dangers -you your special ones, on which I need not now enter, arising from the powerful inducements to employ your voices and musical skill on occasions of conviviality. These are not necessarily to be shunned, as wrong in themselves; but to be used sparingly, and with caution and self-restraint, lest in an unguarded moment you fall, where so many strong men have been overthrown, and bring disgrace on yourselves and scandal on your sacred profession. Be not high-minded, but fear.' 'Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.'

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But such occasions are naturally infrequent; and there are temptations even more fatal to our spiritual life, which you cannot escape from, since they are inherent in your office. I mean those of a dry professional view of your duties, and of accompanying formality and irreverence.

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These are dangers which we of the clergy share with you, and in which we sympathise only too keenly. Familiarity with holy things, as we know only too well, has a sadly deadening effect. We are tempted to go through our duties in a heartless perfunctory manner; and thus things that should have been for our health become to us an occasion of falling. But the peril lies nearer to you than to us. The due execution of the music calls for much practice, involving the frequent repetition of sacred texts; so that, without the greatest watchfulness the words of God are liable to degenerate into a mere framework for the musical sounds, uttered with very small realization of their meaning or endeavour to force the heart to go along with the lips. To this is added the further danger of making the service of God am opportunity for personal display. I am sure I need not tell you how abhorrent it is to the first idea of Divine worship-which involves a perfect forgetfulness of self, and a prostration of our whole being before the majesty of God-that it should be a musical performance for human glory, and that that singer best fulfils his high office who forgets himself most, and causes himself to be most entirely forgotten, and most effectually lifts the heart of the congregation in praise to God.

I have spoken of the temptations to formality and ostentation, and closely connected with these is that to irreverence. To none is the exhortation to 'serve God with reverence and godly fear' (Heb. xii. 28) more necessary than to us, whose daily familiarity with holy things too. easily leads us to think cheaply of them. For your own sake, and even more for that of others who may be pained or offended by it, or strengthened in their irreverence-and especially for that of the younger members of our choirs, who will so certainly take their tonefor good or ill from you, their elders and superiors-let me beseech you to avoid every attitude, gesture, or outward sign, which may savour of irreverence. Be like Jehoshaphat's singers, who went before the army praising the beauty of holiness (2 Chron. xx. 21). Great, as we only too well know, are your temptations of this nature; but God's grace is. sufficient to enable you to overcome them. Seek that regularly and earnestly, and it shall be given. Surely your worship would be more devout, and your distractions of thought far fewer, if you gave the few moments of passing from the vestry to the choir to secret prayer for the gift of devotion.

My brethren, let me exhort you to regard the services of God in His sanctuary as a work to be earnestly prepared for. Do not let it be a matter of chance whether your spirits are in a right frame for it or no. There would be little harmony in an orchestra if the utmost care were not previously taken to bring the instruments into tune. Oh, be at least as careful to tune your hearts for the service of song in His house! The preparation of the heart,' we are told, is from the Lord' (Prov. xvi. 1). Seek this from Him, and He will not deny it you, but will enable you by His Spirit's help so to worship Him here that each service in which you join shall be a fresh step towards Heaven, rendering you more fit for that perfect service in His house on high, where 'they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come' (Rev. iv. 8).

DURSLEY-continued.

still, it did not travel horizontally more than a mile or so, and on its coming down it was again secured by Mr. G. L. Wenden, and brought back with very slight injury. It fully intends to go up again next year higher than ever, wind and weather permitting, and to make itself as famous as Captain Webb, who has succeeded in swimming across the Straits of Dover. The usual games were kept up till dusk, when after a few songs concluding with "God Save the Queen," and the old "Evening Hymn," all returned home. The annual Collections for the Diocesan Association were made on Sunday, August 29th, which amounted to £7.

A

N Amateur Organist is desirous of obtaining an Appointment.
Accustomed to Choral Service.-Apply F.M.W., Stamp Office,

Dursley.

CHURCH REGISTER.

BAPTISMS.

Aug. 6-William Edward, son of Edward Jones and Mary Cope. 9-Alison Mildred, daughter of George Augustus and Lydia Caroline Graham.

29-Alfred William, son of Samuel James and Sarah Jane Aldridge.

MARRIAGES.

Aug. 7-George Munday and Mary Ann Woodward.

21-Alfred Morgan and Clara Emily Talboys.

BURIALS.

Aug. 28-John Poole, aged 84 years, Dalton Cottages.

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30-Mary Wanklin (commonly called Nurse Morgan), aged 84 years, Slade Lane.

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KING-STANLEY.

Those of our parishioners and friends who have been "to see how the Church is going on " during the last few weeks cannot but have admired the new and beautiful feature which is being introduced into the work of restoration, Mr. Marling having very generously offered to pay the cost (£150) of decorating the roofs of the Nave and Aisle. The drawings have been supplied by Mr. Bodley, the architect of the Church, and the well-known firm of Messrs. Leach & Sons, Cambridge, are at present busily engaged with the painting and gilding. A more detailed account will be given when the work is completed.

The Communicants' Class has begun well, and in compliance with the expressed wish of those who attend it, the Clergy have arranged that the Class shall meet once in every 3 weeks, instead of monthly Accordingly, the dates fixed during the present month are Wednesday evenings, the 1st and the 22nd.

The Mistress-ship of the Infants' School, which was vacant by Miss Julian's resignation, has been filled up by the appointment of Miss Gill, from the Deepcar National Schools, Yorkshire.

A few months ago notice was given in the Magazine of the painting of a copy of Raphael's picture "The Holy Family," to be raffled or in aid of the funds for restoring the Chancel. The picture is now almost finished, and we are glad to announce that, as it will be very shortly on view at Mr. Norton's, George Street, Stroud, our friends will have an opportunity of seeing it. All intending subscribers to the raffle (tickets, 10/6 each,) should at once inform the Clergy of their wish.

The Collections for the Diocesan Association on Sunday, Aug. 15, amounted to £3. 6s. 51d.

CHURCH REGISTER.

BAPTISMS.

Aug. 1-Gilbert, son of Thomas and Helen Harrison, Selsley.
Sam Samuel, sou of Charles and Ann Phillimore,
Kingswood.

14-Albert William Edward, son of Charles and Sarah Ann
Hill, Woodside-lane.

26-Minnie Kate, daughter of Charles and Ellen Bennett, The Borough.

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STINCHCOMBE.

The death of Edwin Woodward calls for more than the ordinary notice of the Register entries at the end of the Magazine. It was so sudden and unforeseen that the most thoughtless of his neighbours and acquaintance must have been touched by it. In places like the Forest of Dean such fatal accidents are of more frequent occurrence than among ourselves. Yet, when a death like this does happen, it should make us see how very uncertain life is at all times and in all places. Edwin Woodward died on the evening of Saturday, Aug. 21. He was in the act of unloading a cartload of barley, when the horse that was in the cart moved forwards, there being no one to hold him. From the evidence given at the Inquest, held at the School-room at 8.15 p.m., on Monday the 23rd, it appeared that the deceased must have fallen from the top of the load. He must have fallen first on the shaft, as he was standing on it for some time after the horse had started off. Then probably he lost his balance and was thrown to the ground. It is not known whether the horse kicked him after his fall, or whether the wheel passed over him. This might perhaps have been ascertained if the medical man had given evidence at the Inquest. This was, however, unnecessary, as the purpose of the Coroner's Inquest was only to prove that it was an accidental death. Woodward only lived a few minutes after the accident took place.