COLLECT FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT. [O LORD Jesu 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 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.]

WHAT is the subject of this prayer?

It is a prayer that the labours of the ministers of the Gospel may be successful.

Who, at his first coming, sent a messenger to prepare his way?

Our Lord Jesus Christ.

What do we pray our Lord to grant?

That the ministers and stewards of his mysteries may, by his grace, be enabled to prepare the way for his "second coming."

How are ministers to prepare for Christ's second coming?

By "turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wis

dom of the just."

If our hearts are turned to true wisdom, what shall we be found at Christ's second coming?

We shall be an acceptable people in His sight.
For what purpose will Christ then come?

He will come 66

to judge the world."

Where is Christ now?

He lives and reigns with the Father and the Spirit.
What are these Three Persons called?

One God.

How long will they remain One God?
World without end.

What are the divisions of this Collect?

The address to our Lord Jesu Christ; the reference to a preparation for his first coming; the prayer for ministers; the object of this prayer, the turning men to righteousness; the end of this turning, preparation to stand before the judgment-seat, at Christ's second coming; and an acknowledgment of the power of Christ, and of his eternal Godhead.

What is meant by the word "messenger," as used in this Collect?

Harbinger, one who announces what is to be; a person who goes before to provide for the reception of a prince.

Who was our Lord's harbinger?

John the Baptist.-Mal. iii. 1. Isa. xl. 3. 8. Matt. iii. 3.

What is the meaning of the word "minister?"

One that acts under a higher power: the minister gives his counsel, and exerts his intellectual powers in the service of another. He holds a public character, and at a foreign court represents the person whom he serves. Describe" a steward."

A steward is an officer in great families, who has the management of the affairs of the family, and of the other servants. Gen. xv. 2.; xliii. 19.

What is the meaning of the word "mystery?"

Something covered with a supernatural veil, past finding out by mere natural reason.

1835.]

FRAGMENT OF A SERMON.

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Refer to Scriptures that speak of the mysteries of redemption.

1 Tim. iii. 16. Eph. v. 32. 1 Cor. ii. 7. Col. i. 26. Matt. xiii. 11.

Of what are ministers stewards ?

They are stewards of the mysteries of God.
Why are they stewards?

Because they are appointed to preach the Gospel and to govern the Church of God. They are therefore stewards, because they are entrusted with gifts and opportunities of doing good, which they are bound to manage faithfully to the glory of God, and to the advantage of the people committed to their care.-Luke xvi. 1—12. 1 Pet. iv. 10.

Describe the wisdom of the just.

True godliness; the knowledge of God's will, accompanied by a desire to shun what is wrong, to do what is right, and to perform every duty in the proper season. Job xxviii. 28. Ps. xc. 12.-This idea of wisdom must of course include knowledge, faith, repentance, love, and humility.

When was this Collect composed?

In the year 1662.

From what is this Collect taken ?

From the Epistle and Gospel, 1 Cor. iv. 1-5. and from Matt. xi. 2-10. See also the First Lessons, Isa. xxv. xxvi. 7—13. 21. C. W.

FRAGMENT OF A SERMON.

SELF-EXAMINATION.

ARE we led by the Spirit of God? If it be so, we are in the path to everlasting glory. We are not in that path, unless we are living in obedience to God's commands.Nay, instead of being led by the Spirit, we are resisting and opposing all his influences.-Are we, then, devout towards God, reverencing his services, his sabbaths, and all his ordinances? Do we frequent his house of prayer, with an earnest desire to obtain his spiritual help and blessing? Are we earnest in our supplication for this, or do we render a mere formal service, as if God would accept this, deceiving ourselves,-deceiving others, and

seeming vainly to expect to deceive God? Are we devout in our families, and desirous of so ordering our household affairs, that all who belong to us may have the means of seeking their spiritual good-and may be led into no sin by our means.

Do we set a Christian example, in our words and our conduct? And to our neighbours, are our dealings fair, upright, and honest? In the transactions of business, are we acting as if we knew that the eye of God was upon us? Are we seeking to be pure in conduct, and pure in heart? Do we strive to avoid such. scenes, and such society, as may lessen our reverence for God and his services? Are we seeking to conquer unchristian tempers? Are we desirous of honouring God, by contributing our worldly substance for the promotion of his cause upon earth? Are we ready to give our help towards relieving the wants of our fellow-creatures in distress? Whilst we pray that we may not be led into temptation, are we anxious to keep ourselves out of the way of temptation ?-And when tried, as every one must be in this world, do we pray in earnest that we may be kept from falling,-kept by the power and protecting mercy of our Saviour and our God? If we are thus walking with God, thus led by His Spirit,—we shall indeed soon find that we are in a path of pleasantness and peace, a path which leads to that glorious kingdom, where there is fulness of joy, and where there are pleasures for evermore.

V.

RULES FOR OBSERVING AND SANCTIFYING THE LORD'S DAY.

MR. EDITOR,

IN reading the Life of Matthew Henry, I thought his "Rules for observing and sanctifying the Sabbath," so very excellent, that I had a great many copies printed in the form I enclose', that they might be neatly pasted on a card-board with a loop at the top, and hung up where all the eyes in a house might read them. One of my best friends was pleased to take some of them, and he has given them away to his Cottagers. If you likewise

1 The form of a handbill.

1835.] RULES FOR OBSERVING THE LORD'S DAY. 4.1 approve them, it would greatly extend their usefulness to give them a place in your valuable little Work; and to see them in the New Year's number will greatly please and oblige your grateful and constant reader, F. F.

Dec 2, 1834.

"Prepare for the Sabbath before it comes. Remember it. We read in the Gospel of the preparation,—that is, the day before the Sabbath.

"Do as well as you can to set the house in order; especially set the heart in order. See that nothing be done on the Lord's day which might as well have been done the day before. God is gracious in His allowances; let not us abuse our liberty. You cannot expect things should fall as it were to be desired they should, unless you contrive them. Review the six days' work as God did. You will not find all very good. Renew repentance. 'I will wash my hands in innocency, so will I compass thine altar, O Lord.'

"Begin the day with good thoughts; wake with God; bid the Sabbath welcome; go forth to meet it; think of Christ's resurrection; think of His waking early in the morning.

"Set God before you in all your Sabbath work. Do it as unto the Lord. See His eye upon you, and let your eye be upon Him. It is the sabbath of the Lord your God; from Him you are to hear; to Him you are to speak; it is He with whom you have to do every day; especially this day.

"Fill up Sabbath time with duty. Be good husbands of it. Redeem it-lose no part of it-it is all precious. Instruct your families in the things of God. You would not starve their bodies, do not starve their souls. Pray with them. Let them not be doing your work when they should be doing God's, farther than necessity requires. By mild and gentle reproofs restrain them as much as possible from that which is evil. Let there be a manifest difference between that day and other days in your houses. Go from one duty to another, as a bee from flower to flower. Remember the nature of the work, the necessity and excellency of it. Let all that is within you