this time to be born of a pure virgin: grant that we, being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit, through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth, with thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

The Epistle.-Hebrews,* i. 1.

God, having, through various dispensations, gradually opened his will to mankind, hath at length revealed it fully by his son; who being endued with infinite power, first created the world, then redeemed it, and afterwards resumed his ancient glory: being of a nature infinitely superior to all those heavenly ministers by whom the law was dispensed. This is very evident, from observing his character as marked by the prophets. Is it a language ever used to angels, "Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?" Was it literally, or typically spoken of Solomon, “I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Sou?" And was it not expressive of the dignity of this great character in his exalted state, when the prophet calls upon "all the angels of God to worship him?" The character of angels is that of "ministering spirits." Far differently does the prophet speak of the Son; he is represented as having power and dominion over all created beings as establishing his throne in justice and equity-as the creator of all things-and'as existing from eternity. So again, when the prophet speaks of his exalted station, as subduing the grand enemies of mankind, sin and

* The great object of the Epistle to the Hebrews, is to shew the divine nature of Christ, and the excellency of the gospel, when compared with the institution of Moses; to prevent the Jewish converts from relapsing into the religious observance of those rites and ceremonies, which were now abolished; to point out their total insufficiency, as means of reconciliation and atonement; and to exhort them to steadfastness and perseverance in the true faith.-See Hewlett's Bible.

death, the expressions surely are not applicable to angels, who were not the givers of the law and the gospel, but merely the instruments employed in those services.

The Gospel.-John, i. 1.

That holy person of whom this gospel treats, being united to God from eternity, was one with him. It is he who created the world. It is he who offers salvation to mankind. He is a light shining through darkness. Before his face, God sent his holy messenger John the Baptist, to draw men by his testimony to follow this true light, which he intended for the direction of mankind. And yet, even his own people the Jews received him not. Those very creatures to whom he gave life, rejected the salvation he offered. But to those who shall accept him and believe his promises, he will give the glorious privilege of becoming the sons of God. They shall be born again, not after the manner of men, but through the influence of the Holy Spirit. It was this divine person who condescended to dwell with man, and we, who had near access to him, are witnesses of his glory and power.

THE SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS DAY.

The Collect.

It was a custom amongst the primitive Christians, to celebrate the eighth day after their principal feasts with great solemnity; and upon every intervening day to repeat some part of that service which was performed upon the feast itself; hence the reason why the Collect for Christmas day is repeated on the first Sunday after Christmas day.

The Epistle.-Gal.* iv. 1.

We who are the natural descendants of that

*The Galatians to whom Paul wrote were descended from the Gauls, who conquered the country, and gave it the name

of

patriarch (Abraham), should consider ourselves, while under the legal dispensation, in the light only of children, under the discipline of tutors and guardians. The gospel hath now pronounced us of age; you, also, who were before the servants of sin, are now received, together with us, into the same inheritance. In the days of your idolatry, you served the only Gods you were acquainted with; but now you are the adopted children of the true God.

The Gospel.-Matt. i. 18.

The circumstances which attended the birth of Jesus Christ, who sprang in a direct line from David, were these:

Joseph, who had been betrothed to Mary, the mother of Jesus, found her pregnant before their marriage. Being a just man, a man of very strict principles, he determined to break his engagement with her, but as privately as possible. While his thoughts were employed on this subject, it pleased God to reveal to him in a vision the particulars of this mysterious conception, and to point out to him, as a confirmation of what he had revealed, the prophecy of Isaiah: "Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bring forth a son, who shall be called Emmanuel, or God with man." Joseph, convinced of the innocence and high exaltation of Mary, received her joyfully, but not till after the birth of her son, whom he named Jesus.

of Galatia, or Little Gaul. It is a province in Asia Minor having Pamphylia on the south, and the Euxine on the north.

THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.*

The Collect.

This prayer for the reception of our petitions, and the aid of Divine grace, is adopted from the Liturgy of St. Ambrose.

O Lord, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people who call upon thee, and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle.-Rom. xii. 1.

Let me exhort you, therefore, my Brethren, to live worthy of this holy call. Whether Jews or Gentiles, relinquish entirely your former rites; and in their room, offer to God, each his own body, as a living sacrifice, cleansed from the pollutions of the

*The word Epiphany means illustrious, luminous or splendid appearance.

The festival of the Epiphany, or the manifestation of the Saviour of mankind to the Gentiles, was observed by the primitive Christians for twelve days; but since the year 813, one day only has retained that appellation, and commemorates that day on which the wise men made their offerings to the infant Jesus,

It is commonly thought that the wise men or magi were philosophers, who had the knowledge of future events, and whose chief study was astronomy. That those who came to worship Jesus Christ were disciples and descendants of Balaam, who had prophesied several ages before " of a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre out of Israel."

It is probable that the star which guided these wise men to the Infant Messiah was an inflamed meteor, in the middle regions of the air, which having been observed by the magi, with miraculous and extraordinary circumstances, was taken by them for the star so long foretold by Balaam: and that afterwards they resolved to follow it, and to seek the new born king whose coming it declared.-See Calmet.

world, and purified by holy affections. Nor, on the other hand, let your spiritual endowments create any pride or jealousy among you. The church of Christ, like the human body, consists of various members, and each member hath its respective and indispensable use.

The Gospel.-Luke ii. 41.

When Jesus was about twelve years of age, his

*

parents took him with them to Jerusalem, to celebrate the Passover, as they themselves constantly did. On their return they missed him ; but as there was a great company of their relations and neighbours going on before, they concluded he was among them, and without further solicitude continued their journey. But in the evening, finding this was not the case, they returned to Jerusalem, and sought him in all parts of the city. At length they found him in one of the schools of the temple, listening to the teachers as they expounded the law, and asking such questions, as shewed a wisdom which filled every one present with astonishment.

His parents were surprised to find him there, and his mother could not forbear asking him why he had been so inobservant of them, and had occasioned them so long and sorrowful a search? Jesus answered, How is it that ye sought me? where could I be so properly found as in my father's house? Though they were far from comprehending what he said, yet Mary laid up this speech in her memory among

* Travelling in Eastern countries was at that time, and indeed is now, a very different thing from travelling in this country; for as the way often lay through extensive deserts, and over dreary mountains, infested by wild beasts and plundering Arabs; merchants and others, when they undertook a journey, formed large companies, called Caravanseras, often consisting of several hundreds of persons, who travelled together for the sake of greater security.