The Gospel. St. Matt. xxi. 1. (7.) WHEN they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied and a colt with her loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them; and brought the ass and the colt, and put on thein their clothes, and they sat him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the high

the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all glory aud honour now and for evermore. Dr. Hole.

(7.) The prophecy alluded to in this Gospel, was delivered by Zechariah 500 years before the Advent of Christ. And St. Matthew affirmeth it to have had its accomplishment, when our Lord entered Jerusalem in the manner here described, amidst the acclamations of the attending multitude. The prediction was thus literally and most exactly fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth. No other king, with these characteristic marks about him, ever thus came to Sion before him; and, since the Jews rejected him, they have lost their temple, their city, and their country; nor has there been any Sion to which their King might come. Jerusalem would not rejoice on the day, when the prophet had enjoined her to rejoice, and therefore she has had cause to mourn from that day to this.

From this passage it appears that religion hath its joys: a prophet calleth us to exult and shout: and often as this holy season returneth, the Church secondeth the call. Her services dispel the gloom of melancholy, and put gladness into the hearts of all her children. They are wonderfully calculated to renew good impressions in our minds, to increase our faith, to invigorate our hope, to blow up the sacred fires of devotion and charity, and to fill us with holy and heavenly tempers. They produce a joy, "which no man taketh from us,” and in which a stranger intermeddleth not:" they inspire a pleasure, which no pain can overcome, of which no

est.

And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus, the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that soid. doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

The Second Sunday in Advent. (8.)

The Collect.

BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that, by patience, and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting lite, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

time can deprive us, and which death will perfect and insure to us forever. Perverse Jerusalem rejected joy, and chose sorrow for her portion. Glad tidings came to the Gentiles, and were gladly received. The Christian Church, formed of them, is now the daughter of Sion, and the new Jerusalem. To her the promises are transferred and made good. She therefore obeyeth the prophet's injunction; she continually, with the holy virgin. "magnifieth the Lord, and her spirit rejoiceth in God her Saviour." Bp. Horne.

The

(8.) The Church to prepare us farther for Christ's coming in the flesh, sends us this day, as Christ did the Pharisees, to the holy Scriptures, "for the are they that testify of him :" all the prophecies and promises concerning him being recorded there for our benefit. The Collect for the day reminds us, that God hath "caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning," and teaches us to pray that we may receive and use them aright. Epistle, out of which the Collect was taken, tells us likewise in the beginning, that "whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning," that is, that the history and prophecies of old. as well as the latter precepts or promises, were all designed for our instruction, "that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." The Gospel treats of Christ's second coming to judgment: an excellent preparative for the approaching commemoration of his first coming.

Dr. Hole.

The Epistle. Rom. xv. 4. (9.) WHATSOEVER things were written aforetime, were written for our learning; that we, through patience, and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one towards another, according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Now I say, that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision, for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name and again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people and again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in him shall the Gentiles trust. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and

(9.) The ends, for which St. Paul in this passage says the Scriptures were designed, are an excellent direction how to judge of our improvement by reading and hearing the word of God. He tells us, that the proofs to be produced of it are "patience" and "comfort," and "hope." Would a man then demonstrate that he hath profited by the Scriptures ? Let him apply to himself these proofs. Hath he learned meekness and moderation to them who differ from him? Does he see the ignorance and infirmities of "weaker" Christians with temper and compassion; and, instead of censuring and despising, labour to inform them better, and gain upon their affections by methods of gentleness, and all becoming condescensions? Can he bear the reproaches of them who are in the wrong, when he knows himself in the right? Can he put up with injuries for God's sake, and quietly submit to affliction, when Providence lays it upon him? Does he support himself in hardships and temptations, under calumny and causeless contradiction, by the example of a suffering Saviour, and those other bright patterns of meekness and perseverance, whose trials and praises are recorded in those books? Does he labour diligently for peace and order, charity and godly unity? This, if he does, he is instructed, and mighty in the Scriptures, indeed. But till the virtues, commemorated and commanded there, are copied out into his disposition and practice, "though he understand all mysteries and

peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

The Gospel. St. Luke xxi. 25. (10.)

AND there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable, Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves, that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is high at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away.

all knowledge," (1 Cor. xiii. 2, viii. 2,) yet this apostle tells him roundly, that all this while "he is nothing," and "knows nothing, as he ought to know." Dean Stanhope.

(10.) In its primary acceptation this prophecy relates to the destruction of Jerusalem. But the forms of expression and the images are for the most part applicable also to the day of judgment; and an allusion to that great event, as a kind of secondary object, runs through it. This is a very common practice in the prophetic writings, where two subjects are frequently carried on together. Thus our Saviour here holds out the destruction of Jerusalem, as a type of the dissolution of the world: giving thereby at the same time a most interesting admonition to his immediate hearers the Jews, and a most awful lesson to all his future disciples: so that the benefit of his predictions, instead of being confined to one occasion or to one people, is by this admirable management extended to every subsequent period of time, and to the whole Christian world. Bp. Porteus. As the former prophecy was fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem, so will the latter be fulfilled at the general day of judgment, of which Jerusalem's visitation was a type. How will the glory and terror of that day dazzle the eyes and terrify the hearts of all the enemies of Christ how will it delight the eyes and rejoice the hearts of all that love and fear him, that serve and obey him! Then indeed when the "hearts" of wicked

The Third Sunday in Advent. (11.)

The Collect.

O LORD Jesus Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee; grant that the Ministers and Stewards of thy mysteries (12.) may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that, at thy second coming to judge the world, we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

The Epistle. 1 Cor. iv. 1. (13.) LET a man so account of us, as of the Ministers of Christ, and Stewards of the "men shall be failing them for fear," then may the righteous "look up and lift up their heads, for their redemption draweth nigh."

Burkitt.

(11.) The Collect for this day, adverting again to the first coming of Christ in the flesh, and to his second coming to judgment, reminds us, that, as there was a messenger to prepare his way for the one, so also there are ministers and stewards to make ready his way for the other: and furnishes us with a prayer, that as the former faithfully discharged his office at Christ's first coming, so the latter may perform theirs by way of preparation for his second. Who that first messenger was; and who the ministers and stewards now are, and how they are to perform their office in preparing the way of the Lord; the Epistle informs us as to the latter point, and the Gospel as to the former. Dr. Hole.

(12.) See 1 Cor. iv. 1. The mysteries of God are those counsels of the divine will concerning the salvation of lost mankind, which were kept wholly secret from the far greater part of the world, and discovered only in a small measure even to the Jews; but are now fully made known to all mankind by the Apostles and other preachers of the Gospel, who are therefore called "the stewards" of them, because they are intrusted with them by God, and distribute and disperse the knowledge of them. Dr. Bennet.

(13.) From this day's Epistle we may learn, 1. Who are the officers appointed to make ready the way for Christ's coming to Judgment; namely, the ministers and stewards of his holy mysteries, who are therefore to be received and respected accordingly. We are here bid so to "account of them as of the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God;" and so to think them worthy of double honour, as well for his sake to whom they belong, as for the work's sake about which they are employed. Their calling is the highest upon earth, their employment the noblest, and their message

mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing, that I should be judged of you, or of man's judg ment: yea. I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself, yet am I not hereby justified; but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

The Gospel. St. Matt. xi. 2. (14.)

NOW when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he

the most honourable; the embassadors of Christ, sent to treat with men about their everlasting peace and salvation. And as a prince reckons himself honoured, or affronted, in the good or bad usage of his ambassadors, so Christ accounts himself respected or despised in the good or ill treatment of his ministers; and therefore the apostle gives a strict charge to all people, to "know them that are over them in the Lord, and admonish them, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake." 1 Thess. v. 13. And the author to the Hebrews exhorts us to obey them that have the rule over us in the Lord, and submit ourselves, for they watch for our souls. as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief' Heb.

xiii. 17.

2. If Christ's ministers are to make the way ready for his second coming, then we may learn hence to hearken to them, and receive their mes sage; the words they deliver are from God, and therefore to be received with all reverence and veneration, and to be counted worthy of all acceptation. As the ministers and stewards of God's house are to be faithful in delivering their Master's will, so are the people to be careful of receiving and observing it: "he that heareth you," saith Christ, "heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me." Luke x. 16. And dreadful will be the doom of all such, who shall be found despisers of God, and of Christ. Dr. Hole.

(14.) From the method here taken by the Eaptist, to satisfy his disciples that Jesus was the Christ, we may observe what sort of evidence the Christian religion stands upon. Miracles, dene frequently, publicly, before unbelievers, before enemies, men who could not deny, and yet would have been glad with all their heart to find any flaw in them, any shelter for their infidelity ;-These carried in them a sufficient conviction.-But to whom 1

And as

that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered, and said unto them, Go, and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them: and blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me. they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out in to the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for To all who would attend to them, who would compare prophecies and events, and acknowledge aim for the Messias, in whom these two concurred. But even these did not pretend to bear down prejudice and passion, peevish and resolute perverse

ness.

Blessed are they that are not offended; because they submit to that proof, which Almighty God hath given of his truth, and are content to hearken to reason, in despite of all the solicitations of the world, and corrupt nature, to the contrary. But still "offended" many will be. Religion will always be spoken against; and the rock on which our hopes are built, will continue "a stone of stumbling to the unbelieving and disobedient." 1 Pet. ii. 8. And since we have fair warning that thus it will be, this ought not to unsettle us in our principles, but rather to confirm us in the belief of a Gospel, the truth of which is manifest, even in this particular too. It should awaken our care and circumspection, that while so many are ready to despise and take offence at Christ and his word, we be not found among them, that contribute to, or give just occasion for it. No, rather let us labour by a mo? vigorous zeal for God, and unwearied perseverance in well-doing, to put to silence the ignorance and malice of foolish and gainsaying men.

2. Secondly, It may not be unseasonable upon this occasion, to observe the season proper for miracles. They are necessary to establish new doctrines, and to convert unbelievers; but, when alleged for doctrines sufficiently established already; when wrought or boasted of, only among people already possessed with a belief of the points they are made to countenance; when in a manner that seems to fear the being observed, or detected rather, by those of a contrary persuasion; they are then quite out of proper time and place, and do not create faith, so much as suspicion and fraud. Our Lord proved the force of his miracles, by shewing their agreement with the predictions, that such should be wrought by the Messias. But the same Lord hath warned us, that "in the last days" there shall be "lying wonders;" (Matt. xxiv. 24, 26;) and therefore we have reason to believe, that the pretended

The Fourth Sunday in Advent. (15.) The Collect.

O LORD, raise up we pray thee, thy pow"false prophets

workers of them in those days are

and false Christs." So great a difference there is between the miracles of Christ, which were foretold on purpose that men might believe and be sav ed by them; and those wonders of a more modern date, which were foretold on purpose that men might not believe and be seduced by them.

3. Lastly, When St. John Baptist here is said to "prepare the way of the Lord before him," we should do well to recollect wherein that preparation consisted. And every one in his station, but especially the ministers of the Gospel, who are messengers sent express upon this errand, should be careful to make ready the way to his second, as that harbinger did for his first, coming. For, the preparations are in both cases the same; making guilty people sensible of their sins, reproving open wickedness, unmasking hypocrisy, beating down spiritual pride; importuning men to repentance, by representing, with a faithful zeal, the horrible mischiefs and dreadful conclusion of a wicked course of life, and the terrors of that Master, who, at his coming to purge the floor, will not fail to separate most nicely between the wheat and the chaff, and burn the latter with unquenchable fire. We shall do well to take the Baptist for an example of our conduct too, in giving weight to our doctrines by a life of severe virtue, by boldly rebuking vice, even in the greatest, when duty and a fit opportunity call us to it; and if by this we fall under their displeasure, suffering with a constancy like his; and, even by our deaths, bearing testimony to God and his truth. These things duly attended to, would make a mighty change, even in a profligate and profane world. And, as it is our duty (ours especially who are ministers of Christ) to pursue them vigorously so the blessed effects of reforming mankind are so very great, as to deserve our daily fervent prayers, that God would promote and succeed the good work. And this our Church hath taught us to recommend very pertinently to the divine favour and assistance in the Collect for this day. Dean Stanhope. (15.) This day being the Sunday immediate.

er, (16.) and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us, through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

The Epistle. Phil. iv. 4. (17.) REJOICE in the Lord alway; and again

preceding the Nativity of our Lord, the Church calls upon us to expect him with joy and to meet him with exultation. The Collect for the day prays God to afford us the powerful assistance of his grace; that we may not be retarded by the weight of our sins, but may run with patience the race that is set before us. The Epistle recommends to us several Christian graces, very suitable to the near approach of so great a solemnity; namely, joy, moderation, trust, thanksgiving, and prayer; to all which is added the gracious promise of God's blessing upon those who cultivate them. The Gospel gives us a further account of St. John the Baptist, in the discharge of his office as our Lord's harbinger, and in the witness which he bore to him. Dr. Hole, Dr. Nicholls. (16.) God is there said to "raise "stir up his power," when he exerts or shows it in a remarkable manner. See Ps. lxxx. 2; Deut. xxxiii. 2. Dr. Bennet.

or

(17.) By "the peace of God" in this passage some suppose to be meant the reconciliation made with mankind in our blessed Saviour; a mystery far exceeding the comprehension, not of human only, but of all created and finite understandings. But the sense most apposite to the apostle's purpose seems to be, not only that peace, considered in itself, but a comfortable sense of, and firm persuasion, that we have a share in it; and that this will, even under the worst treatment, and heaviest afflictions, preserve the mind seriously affected with it, in such a state of undisturbed tranquillity as is not possible for any to conceive, whom their own happy experience hath not convinced. This sense seems to be much favoured by the just importance of that original word, which our translators render "keep." A military term, proper to garrisons; and ntimating, that this inward peace is a strong guard, and impregnable defence, against all the tumults and tempests of a boisterous and uncertain world: such as will neither suffer our hearts" to be overpowered, that is, our affections vitiated by immoderate fears, or hopes, or desires of earthly objects; nor our minds" to be captivated, that is, our understanding and judgment to be imposed upon by

I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The Gospel. St. John i. 19. (18.) THIS is the record of John, when the Jews sent Priests and Levites from Jerusafalse notions of temporal good or evil; but will set us above the world, and support and entertain us with spiritual consolations, the continual feast of a good conscience at present, and the prospect of bliss unspeakable and immortal afterwards.

And as this steady composure and serenity of mind may be applied to all the duties, recommended in the Epistle of this day, as their effect and reward; so it is immediately annexed, and seems in a special manner to belong to that of a devout and thankful application to God by prayer. Most seasonable therefore and wise is the use, which our excellent mother, the Church, makes of these words; in dismissing her children after the most solemn acts of worship, with this passage of St. Paul, in form of a blessing; imploring, that what he foretels and promises here, may be made good to the whole congregation. Most properly does she regard the distinction generally observed here between the “heart” and “mind," by begging that her children and members may be kept in the "knowledge and love of God," and "of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord:" and most reasonably may it be expected, that this benediction will avail, since the nearer we approach to God our Saviour, by a spiritual com. munion in prayers and sacraments, and all other holy ordinances, the better we shall know him; and the better we know him, the more we shall be sure to love him: and were that love entire, did he but reign in, and possess our hearts without a rival, we should then feel the best sense of that passage verified to the utmost, in a spiritual regard, and in our own particular case, that "the work of righte ousness is peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever."

Dean Stanhope. (18.) "This record of John" is well worthy of attention particularly upon two accounts.

1. As it relates to himself, it sets him before us as an excellent pattern of true humility. To those questions of the Jews, which had a tendency to ad vance him in honour and esteem with the people, he returns answers in negatives so direct and plain, as would admit of no ambiguity, no doubt at all. To those which concern his true character he is