a doom hanging over them? From this believers, though their faith may be as a bruised reed and as smoking flax, are for ever delivered. Yea, they have everlasting life words of immeasurable bliss: yet they tell of this mortal putting on immortality, of death being swallowed up in victory, of being presented faultless before the throne of God, of the beatific vision, of likeness to Him, of the fruition of His glorious Godhead, of the perfect freedom of His perfect service, of the society of saints and angels, of the many mansions, of the heavenly Jerusalem, of the kingdom that hath no end.

3. This is a true saying, and worthy, etc.-The strength of the comfort in these words of St. Paul to Timothy lies in the fact here affirmed, that it was the very design of Christ Jesus in coming into the world to save sinners. The stress lies on the last

word, sinners.

He came not to call the righteous,

but sinners to repentance.

Here is the hand of Divine mercy stretched out to conscience-stricken souls when first awakened to the sense of sin.

The Son of God came into

the world for this very end, to save such as themselves. Can they question His willingness? As the pilot of the lifeboat, who has fought his way through the hungry waves to the side of the stranded wreck, has proved his heart's desire; it needs not his ringing word of cheer; it needs not his call to spring on board the saviour boat; it is enough, he is there. So is there in this very fact

an assurance of success to all who desire salvation. Are they seeking Christ? The Good Shepherd came to seek them first. He knows exactly where they are, how far they have wandered, on what mountains of peril, in what valleys of darkness. They are seeking Him; He is seeking them. The Shepherd will assuredly seek till He finds the wounded sheep, the wayward lamb.

" a

But these words to save sinners must not be narrowed to the beginning of the pilgrim's progress; they measure all our way to the Celestial City. The words of the angel to Joseph overshadow, as with a cloud of mercy, all our journey home, "Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins." What countless shortcomings and transgressions of the all-perfect law of love, patient and prayerful selfexamination always lights up! Is there not an unutterable relief in the assurance that it was from those very sins which so trouble us, whatever they are-selfishness, worldliness, vanity, pride, covetousness, weakness of purpose, vacillation of will, unbelief, sceptical speculation, presumptuous intrusion into things too high for us-or perhaps temptations to which we have yielded on another side of our mysterious complex life, for each heart knoweth its own bitterness; yet from that sin, whatsoever it may be, which most easily besets us Christ Jesus came to save us? To rescue us from a Matt. i. 21.

K

this especial thraldom was part of the very design of His Advent. Surely as we ponder it, this, which seems at first such an elementary truth, is found to be exceeding broad and exceeding precious, yea, worthy of all acceptation.

4. And now the last of these four comfortable words rises to the climax of consolation. The previous Scripture leads us to the manger of Bethlehem, and the workshop of Nazareth, and the cross of Calvary, and the open sepulchre. This brings us to Olivet, and with His wondering and adoring apostles we track in thought our ascending Lord till by faith we see Him seated at the Father's right hand in glory.

If any man sin, we have an Advocate.-In Him was no sin. He was and is the Lamb without blemish and without spot, the absolutely Sinless One, the altogether Lovely. O divinest Object of contemplation! who does not pray for a nearer view of that excellent glory? And yet the filmless splendour of that light reveals our sinfulness, as nothing else can. In His nearer presence we feel and confess with the prophet, Our transgressions are multiplied before Thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them." And then we consider that, for one failure we know, there are many we know not. And is it true, Thou hast set our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance? We are

a Isa. lix. 12.

¿ Ps. xc. 8.

`ashamed, and blush to lift up our face to God. Yet this comfortable word calls us to look up. We have an Advocate with the Father. Here mercy and truth meet together, righteousness and peace kiss each other. As sinners we are standing at God's tribunal; but on the throne is the Father of Jesus, His Father and our Father. He is our

Advocate pleading for mercy, and yet He is the perfectly righteous One. And this is true, because He is the Propitiation for our sins. His blood speaks peace. With Him the Father is always well pleased. Him the Father heareth always. He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. In this assurance we can come to the very footstool of the throne, and look up in the spirit of adoption and cry, Abba, Father. And hence the holy boldness and fervour of the song of adoration which follows. It is the song of the Lord's redeemed, the praise of saints, even of the children of His covenant, a people near unto Him, saying Hallelujah!

"Come unto Me."-MATT. xi. 28, etc.

Come, weary souls, with toil and guilt oppressed,
Come unto Me and I will give you rest.

Come; God so loved the world He freely gave
His own, His only Son, the world to save.
Come; for I came from heaven at priceless cost
To seek the wanderer and redeem the lost.
Come then with all your sorrows, sins, and needs
To Me, whose lifeblood with your Father pleads.
E. H. B

Answer.

THE HOLY, HOLY, HOLY.

After which the Priest shall proceed, saying,
Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up unto the Lord.

Priest. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
Answer. It is meet and right so to do.

Then shall the Priest turn to the Lord's table, and say,

IT is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O Lord,* Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God.

* These words [Holy Father] must be omitted on TrinitySunday.

¶Here shall follow the Proper Preface, according to the time, if there be any specially appointed: or else immediately shall follow, THEREFORE with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious Name; evermore praising Thee, and saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of Thy glory: Glory be to Thee, O Lord most High. Amen.

PROPER PREFACES.

Upon Christmas Day, and seven days after.

BECAUSE Thou didst give Jesus Christ Thine only Son to be born as at this time for us; who, by the operation of the Holy Ghost, was made very man of the substance of the Virgin Mary His mother; and that without spot of sin, to make us clean from all sin. Therefore with angels, etc.

Upon Easter Day, and seven days after.

BUT chiefly are we bound to praise Thee for the glorious