history ever reward the painstaking
and unprejudiced student!

What are the two principal uses of
history? To serve as the founda-
tion of politics, and the support of
theology! It is to the latter end
that we are editing the works of the
Venerable Bede. Thus far, we have
traced the religious life of our be-
loved country, from times that may
almost have been Apostolic, to the
middle of the fifth century.

We have recorded the foundation of the British Church by King Lucius; we have shown that Rome was in no sense whatever the foun- -X tain-head from which that church had sprung; we have demonstrated the much-to-be commended hospitality of the early British gentlemen towards their clergymen; we have exhibited * See R...

the breadth of mind of the ancient Church of Britain, in the matter of differences of religious opinion, and its consequent identity with the modern Church of England; we have traced the birth of "views" in this pious. land; we have exposed the fallacy of the theory that relics, miracles, and the intercession of saints were approved of and believed in by British Christians; we have pointed out the fact that, as in our own days, so in those of the early British Church, many clergymen believed that what was right on one side of the channel was wrong on the other; and we have conclusively proved that the modern Church of England is in no way dif ferent from the British Church of the early Christian centuries.

We approach one of the most.

interesting periods in the ecclesiastical history of our country.

As to the condition of the clergy in Britain at this time, Bede refers to Gildas, a writer of the sixth century, and as he appeals to Gildas, to Gildas he shall go. This historian describes the British clergymen of the period as "wallowing (after the fashion of swine) in their old and unhappy puddle of intolerable wickedness," and he says that offers "of purchasing ecclesiastical promotions were made by these impudent sinners."

Nor were they averse to making use of interest in order to obtain bishoprics. "If finding resistance, in obtaining their dioceses at home, and some, who seemingly renounce this chaffering of church-livings, they can not attain to such a precious pearl,

then it doth not so much loathe as delight them (after they have carefully sent their messengers beforehand) to cross the seas, and travel over most large countries, that so in the end, yea, even with the sale of their whole substance, they may win such an incomparable glory, or to speak more truly, such a dirty and base deceit and illusion."

And when they have obtained the preferment that they seek, he tells us that they return "back to their own native soil," "instruments of the devil," being ready in this state and fashion to stretch out violently their hands (not so worthy of the holy altars as of the avenging flames of hell) upon Christ's most holy sacrifices. What do ye therefore, O unhappy people! expect from such

belly beasts? as the apostle calleth them."

It is one of the English clergyman's greatest consolations to reflect that it is with such as these that he claims affinity, rather than with the intrusive priests of St. Augustine, of whom more presently. Gildas's description of the British clergy, though couched in monkish language, proves how much there was among them of that "life" of which the Church of England has ever been so justly proud. The "chaffering of churchlivings" is simply the custom of selling advowsons and presentations, which existed during the early Christian centuries in this country, just as it does now. The most unlettered could easily perceive that this is another important link in the chain that