Norman to the pointed, or, as it is called, the " Early English" style, they of course thought that the western part, with its two massive towers, looked very heavy and inelegant; and they consequently designed the magnificent "Early English" front, of the beauty of which the accompanying engraving gives but a very faint idea. It is not known which of the abbots were instrumental in raising this beautiful structure, but as its building probably was a work of considerable time, several might have superintended its erection; the exact date of the commencement of the work is also doubtful, but it was probably early in the thirteenth century.

This beautiful front consists, as you will see by the picture, of three lofty and richly-ornamented arches, supporting gables containing windows, and enriched with many arcades' and recesses containing statues, which represent the twelve apostles, the six kings of England who reigned between the time of the Norman conquest and the building of the front, and many persons connected with the abbey. The front is bounded on the north and south by beautiful turrets crowned with spires, and behind it rises to the north a massive tower, to which another was intended to correspond on the south, but it has never been completed. Subsequently a very rich porch was added to this design within the central arch of the front, as shown in the picture.

2

After the Reformation, when this abbey-church was made a cathedral, almost the only event of consequence which is read of concerning it, as connecting it with the general history of this country, was the interment here of the unfortunate Mary, queen of Scots, in the south aisle of the choir, who had been beheaded at Fotheringhay castle, about ten miles from the city. queen's body, however, did not long remain here; for upon the accession of James, her son, to the throne of England, it was removed to Westminster abbey. The letter in the king's own hand-writing, requesting the dean and chapter to allow of this, is still extant.

1 Arcade, means a series of small arches.

2 Turret, a slender tower.

The

Though between that time and this, the cathedral was nearly reduced to a state of ruin by the parliamentary forces in Cromwell's time, it has now been nearly restored to its former beauty. O. W. Q.

"GROW IN GRACE."

2 PETER iii. 18.

WHAT is the chief sign of life, and symptom of health in a child? Is it not growth? So it is with the children of God as regards their soul's health and life. They grow, it may be invisibly for a time, even to themselves; but they do "grow in grace;" they "go on from strength to strength until every one of them appear before God in Zion." If we do not feel our growth in grace, we should the more earnestly pray that we may grow; and see our growth if God sees good for us to do so. If we are sincere in desiring this, it is some proof that we are not far, in spirit, from that "kingdom which is not meat or drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost," the kingdom of God's grace on earth. Let us ever remember that heavenly desires must be chiefest and strongest, to be real. "Seek first," and you shall find effectually. God says, "My son, give Me thy heart." If we are seeking only faintly, and secondarily, it is no wonder that we do not find; for to such seeking God has not given the "exceeding great and precious promise of his grace and glory. On the contrary, He tells us that "the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." Again, as though the word "seeking" implied too faint an effort, Christ says, "Strive to enter in ; for many I say unto you shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able." There is another valuable use which we should make of this portion of Holy Scripture, besides urging us on in our Christian course. should serve as a test of our state in self-examination. Am I growing in grace? or declining and going back? One or other we must be doing. We should often pray, Lord, open my eyes, and show me to myself, even as I appear in thy sight," "from whom no secret is hid." By such examination we should either draw comfort and

It

THE COTTAGER'S MONTHLY VISITOR.

encouragement, or else be led to deeper hum penitence." Grow then in grace;" "Speak y children of Israel, that they go forward." P

CHRIST, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

THE Lord Jesus said that "He is the light of the but how many of us consider Him to be so? S may say, Who can be so wicked as to deny it, if of God has declared it? Few there may be who but this does not answer the question, How m there that deem Christ the light of the world? hold all Scriptural truth, so fully as to abhor the denying it, and yet we may not be true believe notwithstanding.

It is a great deal to say, that Christ is have just written. It implies, that all the tr saving knowledge in the world is from above; ne all the true joy and comfort are in Christ, all t cheerfulness and sunshine of the soul. For lig great source of comfort and peace. It means, to

He alone can light us to do any of that labour t were created for: for what labour can be perform the dark? If perfect darkness reigned in the r world, we could do no work, enjoy no comfort, ar no knowledge. So, if you take Christ out of the world, there are none of these things left. We nothing about spiritual things; we feel no joy or in them; we can do no good work.

The soul without Christ is just in this miserable tion. When the Saviour appears to our spiritual ey is like the sun rising in the morning, after the deep g of night. The soul awakes, and looks about it, and comfort in the night-light that breaks about it, and in diately rises to its work. Under the quickening b of the Sun of righteousness, it springs into activity, n evil or vain works, but in the service of God. thenceforth it sees nothing so bright, so joyful, so forting, so heavenly, so like the sun to the body's

and feelings as the face of Jesus Christ The world

nothing, in all its glory, so good as He. Christ is the light of the world, so much better than any other. And as we love light, because we rejoice in its cheering effects, so the soul loves Christ, because He is so beautiful, and makes it so happy. It could not think heaven so delightful, unless it knew that Christ is seen there so much more clearly than on earth, and that his presence is everlastingly engaged in full perfection. Let us examine ourselves. Is He to us the Light of the world? or do others occupy that place,-our relatives or parents? or is it money, dress, or ornaments, that delight us? or meat and drink? or is any other idol our light?

It is an expressive word; whatever is the light of the world to us, that is our God!

MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

E.

EXTRACTS FROM THE QUARTERLY PAPER OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL IN FOREIGN PARTS.

PROGRESS IN SOUTHERN INDIA.

"We are happy to find that the relative number of Native Christians on the 30th of June, in the years 1843 and 1846, was 13,937 at the former period, and 16,617 at the latter date, showing an increase of 2680 baptized persons, exclusive of the large body of Catechumens, 7144 in number, who are subject to a long probation previous to their admission into the Church of Christ.

"We shall however, perhaps, give a better idea of the efforts which have been made in this branch of the Society's labours by quoting from a list, with which we have been favoured, of Mission buildings erected within the last three years, in one single district of the Tinnevelly Mission, that of Edeyenkoody, which exhibits four large and seven smaller churches, holding 2940 worshippers; four central and ten village schools, built for 680 boys and girls.

"But of all the measures which, in dependence on the blessing of the Divine Head of the Church, have been adopted, the establishment of the two seminaries of Sawyerpooram in the Tinnevelly, and of Vediarpooram in the Tanjore districts, appears to us incalculably the

most important. They are designed for the superior education of a comparatively limited number of the most promising Native Christian youths from the various missions, in the anxious hope that from them an efficient native ministry may be ultimately raised up, and that at least a large proportion of the students may be found qualified to fill some office in connexion with the Church, as superior catechists or schoolmasters. Thus we may confidently hope that, in due time, we shall be enabled to go forth, (on what has long appeared to us the only scriptural and practicable plan,) with an efficient native ministry, to convey the glad tidings of SALVATION to the millions of Southern India lying in darkness and the shadow of death.

"May the Lord fill us with thankfulness for what He has already wrought, and with humility and self-abasement in the consideration of our manifold defects and short-comings in this great work! May He stir us up to daily increasing watchfulness, diligence, and prayer, so that we may give Him no rest,' until his work is accomplished in this land of darkness and of the shadow of death, and a people is gathered out for his name, not only in Tinnevelly, but in every district of Southern India!"

GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE CONDITION OF THE

SOCIETY.

In the beginning of 1836, the total number of Missionaries on the Society's list in seven dioceses, was 164; in the beginning of 1846, it was 385 in fifteen dioceses. The increase in ten years, was 221.

In 1845, the income of the Society, from all sources, including one-third of the Royal Letter Collection, for general and special designs, was 75,5891. This is exclusive of sums raised in the colonies, but not transmitted to this country.

In 1835, the annual subscriptions from all sources, were 78447.; in 1845, they were 31,0977.; which is the largest amount of permanent annual subscriptions that the Society has ever received. One-fifth of this sum was contributed in annual subscriptions under twenty shillings a year.