religion, with mutual charity and in- ecclesiastics of each church defended creasing usefulness. But the desire their respective doctrines. Among the for external unity, so attractive in partisans of Rome were Agilbert, bishop theory, so unattainable in practice, of Wessex, and Wilfrith, (Wilferth) the disturbed this pleasing repose; and, future celebrated bishop of York. The in the struggle that ensued, the victory

disputation was maintained on both was on the side of the Romish system, the Scottish clergy might have succeeded

sides with learning and acuteness, and aided perhaps by superior learning in settling for ever a strong barrier against and experience, and perhaps by the

the Catholic pretensions of the Roman great advantage which dictatorial in

church, if the king, wavering under the tolerance often possesses, in religious weight of so many conflicting arguments, matters, over an enlarged liberality. had not remarked, that the Scots appealed On weak or ill-instructed minds, the to St. Columba, but the Catholics to the bold assertion of an exclusive access Apostle Peter; for Wilfrith had not forto salvation, so dogmatically claimed gotten to adduce, in support of the by bigots of all churches, will gener

Roman tenets, that Peter was the rock on ally prevail over opposing doctrines,

which the Lord had founded his Church, which invest the choice of a sect with

and that to him were committed the a less hazardous responsibility. The

keys of Heaven. 'Has Columba also scene at the Synod of Whitby reveals king. Colman could not answer in the

received such power?' demanded the à part of the truth, but perhaps a affirmative. 'Do you both agree, that part only; and views of deeper policy to Peter the Lord has given the keys of may have been concealed under the Heaven ?' Both affirmed it. Then,' somewhat slender pretext which led said the king, I will not oppose the to this momentous change.

Heavenly porter, but to my utmost “An important measure, both for the ability will follow all his comnands and benefit of the church and the closer union

precepts, lest, when I come to the gates of the Anglo-Saxons, was reserved for

of Heaven, there be no one to open to King Oswiu. The Anglo-Saxons, accord

me, should he, who is shown to have the ing as they had been converted by Au- key in his custody, turn his back upon gustine and his followers, or by those of

Those sitting in the council, as Columba, were attached to the Roman

well as those standing around, noble and Catholic, or to the British Church. The vulgar, alike anxious for their eternal majority of the ecclesiastics, at least of salvation, approved of this determination, the more distinguished, belonged to the

and were thus, in the usual spirit of latter ; hence arose a difference in reli- large assemblies, and without farther gious views and worship, not only in the investigation of the arguments adduced, several kingdoms, but in the several pro- feelings of the moment.

impelled to a decision by the excited

The Scots vinces, which threatened to become extremely dangerous to the new faith.

either returned to their friends, or We see this religious discussion intro- yielded to the opinion of the majority, duced through marriages even among the

and thus, by the learning of their school, royal families, and that Oswiu himself became useful to the Anglo-Saxons; but, celebrated the Easter festival, according together with these apparently trivial to the Scottish practice, on a different

externals, the great latent influence was day from that observed by his queen,

sacrificed, which their church would Eanflød, a daughter of the King of Kent. probably have acquired in opposition to Ealhfrith also, the son, and co-regent

the then less firmly established one of

Rome.” with Oswiu, was, through the persuasion of his friend Cenwealh, favourable to the

The arrival of Theodore, an able Roman church. Differences of this kind, and accomplished Asiatic, appointed though affecting externals only, greatly to the primacy by the Pope, and the endangered the Christian faith among a co-operation of Wilfrith, just menpeople scarcely weaned from the worship tioned, an Anglo-Saxon of transcenof their forefathers, and acquainted with dant talents and unconquerable zeal, Christianity only in the closest connexion

confirmed throughout England the with the new external observances. Colman, a Scot, the third bishop of Lindis: ascendency of Romish influence, which

had thus been established in Northfarne, after the death of Finan, zealously strove to establish the principles of his umbria, and which, from the first, had sect. A synod was called at Streones- been recognised in Kent. healh, (Whitby) in which, under the pre- We may speculate, with Lappenberg, sidency of Oswiu, the most distinguished on the results to be expected if this

me.'

controversy had terminated differently. had remained pure, the unaided energy A victory of opinion, gained in England of the Roman See might have sunk by the followers of Columba, might under the formidable errors with have laid the foundation of a United which she was at one time threatened, Church, comprehending all the races and the limits of orthodox Christendom that inhabited the island, and suffi- might have been fearfully abridged. ciently powerful to contest with Italy As it is, by the unity that for a time the guidance of Christian principles was attained even at a serious sacrifice, over the rest of Europe, and to confine the preservation and extension of the the Roman Bishoprick within narrower apostolic faith may have been secured and safer bounds.

until the fulness of time arrived, when “ The British Church, established pro

the Reformation set men free from a bably on the oldest direct traditions from bondage that had ceased to be necesJudea, in closest connexion with conver- sary, and had begun to be pernicious. sions of the highest importance in the The ascendency of the Romish history of mankind, appeared, no less by church brought with it another comits geographical position than by its pensation, in the influx of southern exalted spiritual endowments, fitted to

art and classical learning. It cannot become the foundation of a northern patriarchate, which, by its counterpoise ion with Christian Rome, was mainly

be doubted that our religious connexto Rome and the rest of the south, its guardianship over a Celtic and Germanic instrumental in rendering us familiar population, sanctified by the doctrine of with Roman and even with Grecian Christ, might have been the instrument antiquity: and who shall say what to impart to those within its pale, that might have been our mental condition which both meditative and ambitious if we had wanted all the ennobling men in the middle-age sometimes ventured and ameliorating influences which to think on, but which, in comparatively have thence been derived ? A Saxon modern times, Martin Luther first strove

or a Celtic tendency predominating to extort for Romanized Europe.”

in our literature, and in our habits of The picture is pleasing if we con- thought and action, and excluding template these possibilities merely on perhaps benigner elements of senti66 the side that's next the sun." We ment and reflection, might have made fancy a church system extending over us a rude and rugged people, brave Northern Europe, pure in its doctrines and impetuous, ardent and impasand peaceable in its policy, free from sioned, but without either the refineforeign influence and intrigue, and in ment of taste, the soundness of judgharmony with the frank and earnest ment, or the depth of philosophy, character of the nations it embraces which have been the fruits of that within its bosom. We imagine, too ingrafted instruction which has that Rome herself, uninjured by the softened and subdued our native intoxication of a wealth and power character. On the whole, then, let us too great for any clerical rulers to be grateful for what we are: -not rebear meekly and innocently, would pining at having learned our religion have retained something more of from Rome, and not regretting that apostolical truth and simplicity; and we are now emancipated from our that the two rivals might have run a schoolmistress, and at liberty to judge friendly race of Christian zeal and and to act for ourselves. diligence. But there are also opposite With other arts and knowledge, as contingencies which may reconcile us Lappenberg observes, to the course, in which events have been directed by a wisdom greater

“ Architecture also came in the suite of than our own. We might have seen

the Roman Church. The Scottish clergy, perhaps in our own region the estab- from the preference, perhaps, of the norlishment of a church at variance with

thern nations for that material, had

built their churches of wood, thatching that of Rome, in

some essential

them with reeds, an example of which articles of faith in which we

existed in the new Cathedral at Lindisagree with her. We might have been farne. It was at a later period only that born under a great Arian or Pelagian reeds were exchanged for sheets of lead, heresiarchy, enervating or polluting all with which the walls also were someour best elements of action; or, if we times covered. Wilfrith sent for masons

a

now

66

66

from Kent, and the abbot Benedict for of twenty-five years he despised a workmen from Gaul. The stone basilica, transitory wealth, that he might oberected by Paulinus, at York, which had tain that which is eternal." He fallen into a disgraceful state of dilapi- visited Rome five times, and never dation, was restored by Wilfrith, the

returned with empty hands. After roof covered with lead, the windows filled with glass, till then unknown being settled at Weremouth in the among his countrymen. At Ripon, he year 674, Benedict visited Gaul, and caused a new basilica of polished brought with him masons and glass stone to be erected, supported by pil- artificers, to build his church in the lars with a portico. The consecra

Roman style. He then made his tion-at which the Kings Ecgfrith and fourth voyage to Rome, (we quote Ælfwine were present - was concluded again from Bede,) by a feasting reminding us of Pagan "And returned loaded with more times, which lasted during three days abundant spiritual merchandise than beand nights. The four gospels, written fore. In the first place, he brought back with golden letters on purple vellum, a large quantity of books of all kinds ; adorned with paintings, in a case of pure secondly, a great number of relics of gold set with precious stones, enables us Christ's Apostles and Martyrs, all likely to judge both of the wealth and munifi- to bring a blessing on many an English cence of the patrons of Wilfrith.

church; thirdly, he introduced the Roman An edifice still more remarkable was mode of chanting, singing, and ministering erected by the bishop at Hexham, which, in the church, by obtaining permission it is said, had not its like on this side of from Pope Agatho to take back with him the Alps. Benedict's structure, too, at John, the arch chanter of the church of Wearmouth, was the work of masters St. Peter, and Abbot of the Monastery of from Gaul, after the Roman model. Thus, St. Martin, to teach the English.”we perceive, in the instance of the most Further," he brought with him pictures memorable buildings of which mention is of sacred representations to adorn the found in the history of the Anglo-Saxons, church of St. Peter, which he had built ; how their architecture sprang from that namely, a likeness of the Virgin Mary, of ancient Rome, however it may have and of the twelve Apostles, with which been modified in England, to suit a diffe- he intended to adorn the central nave, rence of circumstances and climate. on boarding placed from one wall to the

other; also some figures from ecclesiastical The details we possess of the ex

history for the south wall, nd others ertions of Benedict, mentioned in the from the Revelation of St. John for the preceding extract, and generally north wall; so that every one who entered distinguished by the name of Benedict the church, even if they could not read, Biscop, are especially interesting, and whereever they turned their eyes, might present a remarkable view of the have before them the amiable countenance actual importation and progress of of Christ and his Saints, though it were those arts of civilization, to which but in a picture, and with watchful the Saxons but a century before were

minds might revolve on the benefits of our utter strangers. He was the builder, their eyes the perils of the last judgment,

Lord's incarnation, and having before and first abbot of St. Peter's monas

might examine their hearts the more tery at Weremouth :-“A man,” as

strictly on that account.” Bede tells us in his Lives of the Abbots of that locality, “ of a venerable his fifth voyage

Some years afterwards, he made life, (we use Dr. Giles' translation,) “ From Britain to Rome, and returned blessed (benedictus) both in grace (as usual) with an immense number of and in name; having the mind of an proper ecclesiastical relics.

There were adult even froin his childhood, sur- many sacred books and pictures of the passing his age by his manners, and saints, as numerous as before. He also with a soul addicted to no false brought with him pictures out of our pleasures. He was descended from Lord's history, which he hung round the a noble lineage of the Angles, and Chapel of Our Lady in the larger monasby corresponding dignity of mind, tery; and others to adorn St. Paul's

church and monastery, ably describing worthy to be exalted into the

the connexion of the Old and New company of the angels. Lastly, he

Testament ;

as, for instance, Isaac was the minister of King Oswy, bearing the wood for his own sacrifice, and by his gift enjoyed an estate and Christ carrying the cross on which suitable to his rank; but at the age he was about to suffer, were placed side