ARTICLES OF FAITH.

(Translated from S. Cyril.)
OF HIS BURIAL.

XI. TRULY was He placed in a tomb of rock as man, but because of Him the rocks were rent for very fear. He descended into hell, that from thence He might redeem the just. For, tell me, wouldest thou that the living should enjoy His grace, and that too when most of them are unholy; but that those, who from Adam had been imprisoned a long time, should not obtain their freedom? The prophet Esaias proclaimed with a loud voice so many things concerning Him, and wouldest thou not that the King descend, and ransom His herald? David was there, and Samuel, and all the prophets, and John himself, who inquired by his messenger,-Art Thou He That should come, or look we for another?-Wouldest thou not that He descend and ransom such as these?

OF HIS RESURRECTION.

XII. But He, Who descended into hell, came up again from thence; and JESUS, Who was buried, rose again the third day. And if the Jews should ever annoy you, meet them by some such inquiry as this. Did Jonas come forth from the whale after three days? and has not CHRIST risen from the earth after three days? The dead body touched the bones of Elisæus, and lived; and is not then the Maker of mankind more easily raised by the power of His FATHER? Truly, therefore, did He rise again, and appeared after His resurrection unto His disciples; and His twelve disciples were witnesses of His resurrection, not with flattering words, but contending even to tortures and death for its truth. Besides, at the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established according to the Scriptures; but twelve bear witness to the resurrection of CHRIST, and dost thou yet disbelieve concerning it?

OF HIS ASCENSION.

XIII. But when JESUS had finished His race of patience, and redeemed mankind from their sins, He ascended again into heaven, a cloud having received Him. And angels stood by, and apostles gazed upon Him as He went up. But if any place not confidence in my words, let him believe the power of the things that are now seen. All kings, when they die, put off also their power with their life; but CHRIST crucified is worshipped by all the world. We preach the Crucified, and the devils now tremble. Many have from time to time been crucified, but hath the invocation of any of them ever terrified the devils?

XIV. Let us not then be ashamed of the Cross of CHRIST, but even if others conceal it, do thou seal it openly upon thy forehead,

that the devils beholding that Royal Sign, may tremble and flee away. And make this sign when eating and drinking, sitting, lying down, rising up, talking, walking; in a word, in everything. For He Who was crucified thereon is in heaven above. For had He, when crucified and buried, remained in the tomb, we should have had cause for shame; but now He Who was crucified on Golgotha hath ascended from the Mount of Olives on earth into heaven. From having descended hence into Hades, and come up again to us, He went up again from us into heaven, His FATHER addressing Him, and saying, Sit Thou on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.'

OF THE FUTURE JUDGMENT.

XV. This JESUS CHRIST Who hath ascended, cometh again from heaven, not from earth. I said not from the earth, because many Antichrists will come therefrom. For already, as thou seest, many have begun to say, I am CHRIST; and there is still to come that abomination of desolation which falsely usurps the name of CHRIST. But do thou look for the true CHRIST, the only-begotten SON of GOD; no longer coming from earth, but from heaven; appearing to all brighter than lightning, or the splendour of fire, attended by angels as guards, that He may judge the quick and the dead, and reign over a kingdom heavenly, eternal, and that hath no end. Establish your faith firmly on this point also, since many there are who assert that there is an end of the kingdom of CHRIST.

OF THE HOLY GHOST.

XVI. Believe also in the HOLY GHOST, and hold the right faith concerning Him, because many there are who teach blasphemous things concerning Him. But do thou learn that this HOLY SPIRIT is One, indivisible, all-powerful; working many things, yet Himself undivided; Who knoweth mysteries, and searcheth all things, even the deep things of GOD; Who descended on our LORD JESUS CHRIST in the form of a dove; Who wrought in the law and the prophets, and now, even at the time of baptism, sealeth thy soul; of Whose holiness even intelligent nature hath need; against Whom if a man dare blaspheme, he shall not have remission either in this world or in the world to come; Who, with the FATHER and the Son, is honoured with the glory of the Godhead; of Whom thrones also, and dominions, and principalities, have need. For there is one GOD, the FATHER of CHRIST; and one LORD JESUS CHRIST, the only-begotten Son of the one GOD; and one HOLY GHOST, Who sanctifieth and deifieth all; Who spake in the law and the prophets, in the Old and New Testament.

XVII. Have thou everywhere His seal in thy mind, which now hath been briefly handed down to thee, and which, if the LORD permit, shall hereafter be more fully explained, according to my

power, with proofs from Holy Scripture. For necessary is it that not even the most trifling remark concerning the divine and holy mysteries of the faith should be delivered without the holy Scriptures, nor be rashly set forth with the subtleties and artifices of mere argument. Do not, therefore, believe me when I tell thee these things, unless thou receivest proof of what is advanced from the Scriptures; for this salvation of our faith is not by plausible reasonings, but by proof from the Word of God.

CHRISTMAS AT MAGDALEN COLLEGE, OXFORD.

To the Editor of the Churchman's Companion.

You have been pleased, Mr. Editor, on one or two occasions, to consider the holiday doings of the choir and school attached to this college, as worth the attention of your readers; and some account of May-day among us, and of our breaking up for the holidays and distribution of prizes has already appeared in your pages. We broke up with similar proceedings before Christmas this year, and the boarders and day-boys were then dispersed, but the choir remained entire to do honour to Christmas and the festivals which follow. On Christmas eve nearly all the resident members of the college, including fellows, chaplains, clerks, choristers, and other boys of the school, met in the great hall of the college about eight o'clock p.m. The hall wore a most festive look. The high table, on which were placed refreshments for a later period of the evening, was splendidly adorned with silver plate, especially with six noble grace-cups, One of these was the founder's cup, of silver gilt, and fashioned quaintly like a gourd upon a tall and elegant stem, with a small image of S. Mary Magdalene surmounting the whole. Another commemorates the restoration of the forty fellows and the president after their tyrannical expulsion by James II. Over the high table large boughs of holly were affixed to the panelling, and sparkled brilliantly in the midst of a blaze of light. Before long the musical portion of our vigil commenced. The first part of Handel's Messiah was sung through, parts being taken by some of the fellows, chaplains, and clerks. After this, refreshments were taken, the first attack being made by the boys, and then followed the second part of the concert. It consisted of several carols interspersed among other pieces of appropriate music, such as the "Agnus Dei" of Naumann, "Lo, star-led chief," by Crotch, the Hallelujah Chorus, and Haydn's

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Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini." These lasted till near midnight, and were followed by a short pause. When the clock struck twelve the hall was hushed, and, as soon as the last stroke was past, "Gloria in excelsis DEO," the song of the heavenly Host, was sung. The founder's cup was then handed to our entertainer, who lifted it to his lips with a Christmas salutation to all present. It was then passed from hand to hand through the whole company, and all shook hands with one another, wishing a happy Christmas, and all blessings of the season. Thus we welcomed the morn of the nativity, our first act being an ascription of " Glory to GOD in the Highest," our second one of "good will towards men."

On Christmas day the morning service was performed by some of the senior fellows, and all of us were gladdened by the presence of our beloved and venerated president, who seldom suffers extreme old age to detain him from chapel on such solemn occasions. In the afternoon "high prayers," as they are called, were chanted, the organ accompanying the responses. The festivities of the evening were of a more private nature than those of the preceding night. Still we cannot forbear to give a glimpse of what was passing in one of the fellows' rooms, where many of the boys were invited to spend the evening, together with some from Rugby. Imagine a room of moderate dimensions, its panels graced with large and interesting religious paintings, images of the twelve apostles and others, and a triptych richly carved and painted, representing the offering of the Magi. Imagine all this brilliantly lighted up by a corona lucis of exquisite design, sustaining six candles, by several other candles in candlesticks of antique form; and, lastly, by a lofty Christmas tree, the foliage of which was sparkling holly, and the fruit some dozens of lighted tapers, with bon-bons and other gay presents. The latter were drawn in succession by the choristers present and carried off as memorials of the day.

I will not try your patience farther, Mr. Editor; my object has been to show that those who are absent from their own hearths at Christmas find something of a home at Magdalen. J. E. M.

THE MIDNIGHT SACRAMENT.

"Unto the godly there ariseth up light in the darkness." It was fast drawing on to the deep noon of night, the heavy roll of carriages had long ceased, a few hurrying passengers from time to time quickly passed along the almost deserted streets, anxious to repose after the toil of a weary day, and prepare themselves for the merry holiday-making on the morrow. It was a raw

clammy evening, that Christmas Eve, the pavement slippery from a recent thaw, and who would not rather draw close the thick crimson folds of his warm curtains, and sit by the crisp sparkling fire, with a cheerful lamp lighting up smiling friends around him, than go forth into the chilling atmosphere without, be his mission what it might? There were, however, walkers, and some who little heeded the lateness of the hour, or the ungenial damp; tender women and robust men, priests and lawyers, the aged and the young, the noble and the lowly in degree: walkers a-foot and simply garbed, not tempted by the brilliant promise of the opera, or the gay dance, or social entertainment, domestic feast, or any amusement of this world; we will bear them company, while all sleep or are careless, they move onward with quiet pleasure, thread one or two retired streets-hark ! · the solemn roll of an organ peals strangely on the ear, a subdued light falls athwart the way, there is an open porch, and many are entering, they, whose eyes prevent the night watches. We had come with fresh memories of mournful Churches decked with the sombre garniture of woe, the knell of the tolling bell still clung to our hearing, the dirge and lament for the loss of a departed Queen and a national benefactor. In a moment, as we mounted the stair, and the large doors rolled back, what a change for eye and ear met us, what a transition was there from the murky darkness, the lonely streets, the unnatural hush of a great metropolis at rest, into the odorous air, the blaze of light, the thrilling volume of rich music that floated from the unseen organ, the stall frequent and full with crowded worshippers; the altar garbedith costly vestments worked by loving woman's hands, gleaming with its twin tapers quivering like golden tongues of flame between which shone clear and chief the Symbol of the Faith. The reredos of pale stone, relieved by the insertion of emblems, the niches filled with fragrant flowers, goodly hangings clothing the side walls, the illuminated sedilia are bathed in a broad flood of living light: festoons of the holly, the ivy, the box, and the bay are wreathed round each column and pier, and mingled with blossoms of winter growth, pendant or resting along the cresting of the carved screens, or girt about the pulpit, making in the midst the Sacred Monogram. We seemed to be as they that dream, suddenly translated into a new and better world. There were no lounging forms, no wandering eyes, no noisy attendants, no creaking doors of half filled pews, no cumbrous desks-all was sedate, collected, reverent: all faces were turned eastward, as of those in expectation of Him, whose star eighteen centuries ago stood over the lowly dwelling of Bethlehem. The world is hushed, before the morning watch the faithful are assembled, upon the floor are kneeling penitents, in the sanctuary are many silent prayers breathed for the pre