those great national revolutions which had so recently subsided. So great was the zeal shown by the English people in the cause, that within 150 years, from A.D. 1066, to the reign of Henry III., A.D. 1216, there were founded and refounded no less than 476 abbeys and priories. Several new orders of religion were brought into England in the time of Henry I. : the Cistercians, the monks of Grandmont, the Augustine canons, the canons of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Knights Hospitallers. Three new orders ;. in the succeeding reign: the Knights Templars, and the Praemonstratentian and Gilbertine canons. Soon after came the Carthusians, and the two classes of mendicant friars —the Dominicans and Franciscans. Such were the principal monastic orders in England.

BYLAND ABBEY—(Founded 1138).

This abbey, in the archdeaconry of Cleveland and deanery of Bulmer, is situate about five miles south-west from Helmsley, in the North Riding of Yorkshire.

Gerald, an abbot, with twelve monks, fled during incursions of the Scots, from Furness, and were graciously received by Archbishop Thurstin, who recommended them to Roger de Mowbray, about the year 1138, who settled them at Hode, near Whitby. The monks were removed to various places, and at last were placed, as a convent of Cistercian monks, at Byland, under the protection of Roger de Mowbray. Afterwards, 1155, Roger, Archbishop of York, took the abbey under his immediate protection, as it had been much harassed with law-suits.

The abbey had many privileges granted to it by Pope Adrian IV., an Englishman, A.D. 1159. Several sovereigns made grants to it of special privileges. It held lands at Wilsden and Denholme, in the parish of Bradford, in the same county.

The abbey of Byland was dedicated to “the Blessed Virgin,” and continued in a flourishing state till the general dissolution of monastic houses, when its yearly revenues were valued at 238!. 9s. 4d. The site, and most of the demesne lands, were granted, 32 Hen. VIII., to Sir William Pykering.

We conclude this paper with a list of the ABBOTS OF BYLAND.

(Concluded from page 30). ROBERT, by his industry, assisted by his wife, acquired sufficient money to buy a comfortable cottage, some few years after their marriage. Order and cleanliness reign within it. On a shelf lie some well-selected books. Some of these are highly valued, being the gift of preceding ministers, as marks of their remembrance. There are two rooms in front, one of which is appropriated for the school. Around the door a thick and spreading shrub throws its luxuriant branches. A garden attached to the house supplies them with vegetables throughout the year. A pretty little spot is decorated with flowers almost of every description—the lily, the tulip, the carnation, with many others whose names I forget. Robert was passionately fond of these frail, but beautiful productions of nature, and many came to beg seeds and roots of him. The cheerful appearance without was sweetly assimilated to the piety and peace within. As the family knelt, morning and evening, their praises ascended as holy incense to heaven in gratitude for the mercies they enjoyed. They were indeed blest ; everything prospered with them. How many complain of the hardness of the times, and of the difficulty of

procuring a livelihood for themselves and families. Happy would it be for such murmurers, if they were to imitate Robert in industry and perseverance. The clerk's aunt, whom I have before mentioned, I frequently talked with, and every conversation increased my good opinion of her. She was “one of the excellent of the earth.” Her countenance would beam with pleasure when I spoke of her nephew, for she loved him as her own son. This woman was a real comfort to the village. Often in my visits to the sick have I seen her ministering to their wants. She was a nurse without fee or reward; and, from her benevolent disposition, was peculiarly qualified for the office. Her manner of speaking was very fervent and kind. . When Ibade her good morning, she would reply—“I wish you a very good morning, Sir.” Books and sermons were always gladly received. On the day of my departure from the curacy, she came to bid me farewell, and said, with a burst of tears, “Thank you, Sir, for that book.” I am unconscious at this time to what tract she alluded, but to one, doubtless, from which she had derived comfort. When I had been reading to the sick in her presence, she would generally give an exhortation to the poor invalid, and tell him “how thankful he ought to be for hearing that good book.” She was a regular attendant at church, for an important event it must have been indeed which would have kept her from the house of God. Long before prayers you might see her coming, in her neat and clean attire. The church of S. was small, but never so well filled as might have been expected from the extent of the parish. The village bells early on the Sunday morning awakened the humble villagers to the recollection of the day, yet many, notwithstanding my frequent expostulations, excused themselves from a constant attendance on divine worship. There were many, however, who could say with truth— “Sweet is the Sabbath morn to me, When village bells salute the day,

And by their sacred minstrelsy,
Call me from sin and care away !

“And dear to me the winged hour
Spent in thy hallow'd courts, O Lord;
To feel within thy mystic power,
And catch the manna of thy word 1

“And dear to me the loud Amen
Which echoes through the blest abode,

Which sweils and sinks, and swells again,

Dies on the walls, but lives to God!” A little before service, Robert would look with evident anxiety for my little flock, and if few came he would prolong the ringing for some time. This is but a trivial circumstance, yet it marks his desire for the interest of others, and developes his Christian character. When the congregation was good, he would always mention it with great satisfaction. As clerk, he read with a solemnity most congenial to the place and the occasion. He felt deeply what was said. In those parts where the name of our Saviour is noticed, he was very emphatic. Happy man! what to many in his situation is a task, to him was the greatest pleasure. To the sermon he paid marked and profound attention, taking down, as I went on, those sentences which struck him most forcibly to meditate upon at home. Sunday was to him the happiest of all days, for it afforded him abundant time to read the Bible. The design of this holy day, which is to worship God and to edify our souls, was duly acted upon. Thus he enjoyed a foretaste of that everlasting Sabbath which remaineth for the children of God.

My predecessor in the ministry of S. had established a Sunday-school, which has been of great advantage to the poor. The fruits of Sunday instruction were very apparent: the scholars were often the means of teaching their parents and bringing them to church. Most of the respectable farmers and others gave their gratuitous assistance. Amongst the number was the clerk; but in consequence of his easy temper the lads were generally turbulent under his care--they presumed upon his good-nature.

Robert still lives in the enjoyment of that happiness which arises from a pious and holy life. The blessing of that God whom he serves, with sincerity and truth overshadows him. Like Joseph, “the Lord is with him," and prospers every thing he takes in hand. He is universally esteemed and beloved by all who know him ; even the wicked speak well of him. I have now left the parish, but never shall I forget this humble Christian. He expressed great regret at my leaving them, and received with evident emotion the little book I left with him, as a token of my regard for his many and great virtues. May he still go on and prosper, ever having in view the one great object to glorify God, who has called him unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus;" he will then shine for ever and ever, as the stars in heaven.

And now, my dear reader, my trouble in writing this simple story will be amply repaid, if you are led by it to imitate Robert in his piety and virtue. If, through the grace of God, your heart is illuminated to see the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, happy are you for time and for eternity. Hear the words of the Saviour: “Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.” “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” If your mind is still darkened, pray earnestly for God's Holy Spirit to enlighten your understanding. Fly to the protection of Him who is ready with open arms to receive you, if with a penitent and true heart you turn unto Him. Seek “repentance towards God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ." "Be “clothed with humility," and live in Christ. And may the blessing of the Almighty assist your imperfect endeavours, and bring you, through the merits of the Redeemer, to happiness and to heaven!

Our story originally closed here. I have now, however, to inform my reader of Robert's death. He was delivered from this world after a few weeks' illness, and received into glory. He died in peace and hope. “ May we die the death of the righteous, and may our last end be like his !” (Num. xxiii. 10).

" IMMANUEL, GOD WITH US."

(Matt. i. 23).

(From the Family Reader of the New Testament. By the Rev. J. E.

Riddle, M.A.)

Reader: Let our thoughts dwell for a few moments upon the meaning and power of this name. Immanuel : most holy and reverend, and full of consolation to ourselves. God with us ; “ that is (says Baxter), God taking our nature, appearing to us, and reconciling and bringing us to himself.”—“ A mysterious name, but very precious. God incarnate among us, and so God reconcileable to us; at peace with us, and taking us into covenant and communion with himself. The people of the Jews had God with them, in type and shadow, dwelling between the cherubims; but never so as when the Word was made fiesh'--that was the blessed Shechinah. What a happy step is hereby taken towards the settling a peace between God and man, that the