Eikqn Ekkaiisiasikh.

cathedral is covered with this beautiful archwork , and the ancient parts of Lincoln cathedral . The flat surfaces within these arches are sometimes also richly decorated , as in the church of St . Augustine , at Canterbury . The Latin cross , as we have shown , had become the established form for churches of the larger classbut the east end

, frequently terminated in a semicular apse , and the circular formerly predominated in the appendant chajiels , as may be seen at Canterbury , Norwich , or Gloucester . The interior elevation of the Norman church is best exhibited in Durham cathedral , which consists of the line of lower arches , surmounted by the trifjrium and clerestory . The intersection

of the cross was covered by a . tower , low , but pierced with arches for windows , and forming a sort of lantern . The west end is usually flanked by two other but smaller towers , and frequently as the angles of the building fall forward , they are surmounted by square or octangular turrets , formed of groups of columns and arches , admitting of great

variety and beaut }* in the arrangement . The twelfth century was extremely prolific of fortresses and churches . Henry I . was a great builder of both ; but in the following reign the country became , as wc are told in the Saxon chronicle , " covered with castles aud every one built a castle who was able . " So numerous had these fortresses become and

so turbulent the various orders of the state , that long before the death of Stephen these fortified castles amounted to nearly twelve hundred in number . But it is singular that wc owe to this period also some of our principal ecclesiastical edifices . The wealth of the bishop ancl the barou had exceeded all proportion

to the wants of either . There was no way of disposing of it but to bury it in the earth or exchange it for the support of followers , which were not less necessary to the priest than to the kni ght . The abbot on his mule could summon as many stalwart retainers to his service as the belted and spurred noble who waged endless war upon his neighbours . The

only difference was that the territorial policy of the one was defensive , that of the other aggressive . It was seldom however that the clergy wore molested . Their spiritual powers were at that time ample to restrain any attempt upon their revenues ; their resources were constantly increasing , and it is doubtful whether in those clays the internecine war that

was waged by rival barons did not greatly contribute to increase them , for there were votive offerings , masses , prayers , promises , indulgences , and penitential impositions—for which there was likely to be a much greater demand in time of war than in time of peace . Of these resources some idea may be formed from the example of Bishop Herbert Losing

, who removed the episcopal see of Thetford to Norwich in 1094 . This prelate had out of his own resources established a large community of monks at Thetford before transferring his see to Norwich . In Norwich be built and established a very large monastery , defraying the expense entirely out of his private fortune . He further erected the magnificent

cathedral which remains as a monument of his munificence to this day . It is singular indeed that William of Malmesbury , who may be presumed to have been well informed on matters of this kind , tells us that "he was by no means a rich bishop . " The meaning of this is perhaps that he was poor for one of his order .

There were other bishops of the same date who seem to have had surpassing notions of the extent which a Christian church . should occupy , aud the splendour by which it should be characterized . There was one Mauritius , Bishop of London in the year 1086 . This prelate began to build a church upon a plan so vast and magnificent that it was looked upon as a rash and

presumptuous undertaking , but it was remembered that his wealth was reputed to be inexhaustible , his zeal unrest ™ inable . The fruit of this zeal has been lost to his posterity , if indeed it ever came to maturit y . Roger Bishop Sarum ( U 07—1139 ) was another enormousl y rich prelate . ' ¦ ' He built his cathedral in such a manner , " savs William of

Malmesbury , "that it yielded to none and surpassed many . " He also erected several castles and strongholds upon his estates , and built numerous mansions of " such unrivalled magnificence that in merely maintaining them his successors will toil after him in vain . " The abbey of Malmesbury was built , established , and endowed liberally by this prelate ,, but the fragments of Sherborne Castle are all that remain of the noble works which drew forth the encomiums of the chronicler .

The noble cathedral of Durham was founded at tins date ( 1093 ) by William cle Carilepho ; Chichester , by Bishop Ralph ( 1091 ); Peterborough , by Ernulph ( 1107 ) ; Rochester , by Gundulph ( 1077 ) ; Hereford , by Robert de Losing ( 1079 ) Gloucester , by Abbot Serlo ( 1088 ) ; Oxford , by Prior Guymond ( 1120 . ) We should indeed include most of the ancient

religious edifices in England . The Tower of London is also the work of Gundulph of Rochester , who , though a bishop , was the ablest architect of his day , and was at the head of a body of " Masons who built many wonderful works of castles as well as churches . " PeterBishop of Colechurchbuilt the first stone bridge

, , across the Thames , 1176 . Blois , Bishop of Winchester , founded the monastery and hospital of St . Cross for the relief of poor travellers , the revenues of which have accumulated to so vast a sum as to amount within comparatively a few years to half a million of money . But we must leave particular instances to future

opportunities . Such was the public spirit of the ecclesiastics of that day—whatever may have been the faults of the system which produced them , they were evidently superior to many of the temptations of their position , and spent their lives in preserving what a later age happily enjoys—the treasures of ancient learning and the traditions of art and religion . Those

glorious structures which , where the violence of man has not forestalled the destroying hand of time , remain to us as the monuments of genius dedicated to religion , afford a testimony unimpeachable to the energy and piety of their authors , aud

call forth an admiration not to be measured even by the mighty works that have been executed in our day . Along their aisles where falls the many coloured light , sober and shadowy yet deep and warm , we read the last verse of life ' s epic in the carved casque and armour of the kni ght , the prelate ' s crozier , and the king ' s sceptre . That beautiful

sculptured form with cold lookiug marble rose in its stony hand covers , like the binding of a book , many a chapter of romance , love , and poetry . Men who have penetrated inacessible wilds , and women whose smile and prayer have made the wealth of the dungeon—upon which fortitude leaned on its way to the scaflbld—sleep here , at peace . Requiescant !

Silence seems to whisper to the intruder that he may not stay in her domain . But those massive columns , the vaulted roof , the statues of faith and hope and charity , seem to proclaim that not the least compensation for the toil of life spent in the achievement of good is the repose which it furnishes to the pilgrimand the food for meditation . Nor is it only

, as the founders ancl authors of our glorious cathedrals that these prelates are entitled to our admiration . There is great reason to believe that their enlightenment on many points of faith as well as art far outstripped the time in which they lived , and that not by their skill alone , but also by their pietyin an age of lawlessness and violencethoy gave

, , temples whicli were to be reserved for a faith as pure as their own to dwell in . They need no monument . Theirs is in the prayers and music of Sabbath pealing thanksgiving from , a thousand hearts ; theirs is in the voice of mourning , and tears of awakened penitence—their monument indeed is the work of their own hands , but the dwelling of the Most High .

PEEACHING AXD INSTRUCTION . —A worthy old clergyman having , upon the occasion of , i communion Monday , taken a text of a simple character , was thus commented on by an ancient dame of the congregation , who was previously acquainted with Ms style of discourse : — " If there ' s an ill text in a' tbe Bible , that creetur ' s ave sure to tak it . " — Dean Ramsay ,