plained to be among themselves. And, indeed, it is no small advantage to our Liturgy, that it was the offspring of all that authority, which was to prescribe in matters of religion. The king and the priest, which are the antistites religionis, (the presiding and directing officers of religion, and the preservers of both the tables), joined in this work : and the people, as represented in parliament, were advised withal, in authorizing the form, after much deliberation; so that it was not only reasonable and sacred, but free, both from the indiscretion, and, which is very considerable, even from the scandal of popularity. That only, in which the Church of Rome, had prevaricated against the word of God, or innovated against apostolic tradition, was pared away. Great part of it consisted of the very words of Scripture, as the Psalms, Lessons, Hymns, Epistles, and Gospels: and the rest was, in every particular, made agreeable to it, and drawn from the Liturgies of the ancient Church. The Rubricks of it were written in the blood of some of the compilers, men famous in their generations; whose reputation, and glory of martyrdom, hath made it immodest for the best of men, now, to compare themselves with them. And its composure is so admirable, that the most industrious wits of its enemies, can scarce find out an objection, of value enough to make a doubt, or scarce a scruple, in a serious spirit. There is no part of religion, but is in the offices of the Church of England. For if the soul desires to be humbled, she hath forms provided of confession to God before his Church; if she will rejoice and give God thanks for particular blessings, there are forms of thanksgiving for all the solemn occasions, which could be foreseen, and for which

provision could by public order be made; if she will commend to God the public and private necessities of the Church, and single persons, the whole body of Collects and devotions, supplies them abundantly; and if her devotions be high and pregnant, and prepared to fervency and importunity of congress with God, the Litany is an admirable pattern of devotion, full of circumstances proportionable to a quick and earnest spirit. There are also, in the offices, forms of solemn absolution and benediction; and, if they be not highly deserving of consideration, there is nothing sacred in the evangelical ministry, but the altars themselves are made of unhallowed turf. When the revolution of the anniversary calls on us to perform our duty of special meditation on, and thankfulness to God for, the glorious benefits of Christ's incarnation, nativity, passion, resurrection, and ascension, &c., then we have the offices of Christmas, the Annunciation, GoodFriday, Easter, and Ascension, &c.; and the offices are so ordained, that, if they be summed up, they will make an excellent creed, and the very design of the day, teaches the meaning of an article. The life and death of the saints, which are very precious in the eyes of God, are so remembered, that, by giving thanks and praises, God may be honoured; the Church instructed, by the setting forth of their examples; and we give testimony of the honour and love we pay to religion, by our pious veneration and esteem of those holy and beatified persons. To which, if we add the advantages of the whole Psalter, which is an entire body of devotion by itself, and hath in it forms to exercise all graces by way of internal act, and spiritual intention; there is not any ghostly advantage,

which the most religious can either need or fancy, but what the English Liturgy, in its intire constitution will furnish us withal."

LIFE WITH RESPECT TO ETERNITY.

OUR life is but a moment of time, and yet in this moment of time, we sow the seeds of eternity; in this transitory hour, I am promising to myself either a good or a bad eternity. These words that now I speak, these works that I now act, though they here seem to rot, yet they shall spring up to eternity. Therefore, as the poet answered one, upbraiding him for being three days, about three verses; whereas he could make an hundred in one day; "Oh,” saith he "thine are but for three days, as it were, but mine must continue for ever." According to my carriage now, my name must either rise or fall for ever. So may we answer this foolish world, upbraiding us of too much strictness and preciseness. Oh, had not we need to be exact-minded, when the works we are about, are not to be written in sand, but in the records of eternity? The lines that now we draw, must run parallel with eternity; and according as we carry ourselves in this moment of time, our souls must live or die for ever. O Lord! help me so to improve the brevity of my life, by the integrity of my actions, that I may turn this moment of misery into an eternity of bliss.-Lucas' Divine Breathings.

No. 85.]

[Vol. IV.

THE PENNY

SUNDAY READER.

EDITED BY THE REV. I. E. N. MOLESWORTH,

RECTOR OF ST. MARTIN'S, CANTERBURY, AND ONE OF THE

SIX PREACHERS OF CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL.

ST. MARTIN'S CHURCH, CANTERBURY,

IN WHICH CHRISTIANITY WAS FIRST EMBRACED BY A

KINGS SHALL BE THY NURSING FATHERS AND THEIR QUEENS THY NURSING MOTHERS.-Isaiah xlix. 23.

CANTERBURY:

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Just Published, Price Threepence, (Printed to bind up with the Penny Sunday Reader,) GOD'S GLORY DECLARED IN THE HEAVENS;

A SERMON

ON THE 19TH PSALM,

SUGGESTING

PLAIN AND DEVOUT MEDITATIONS

ON THE

ECLIPSE OF THE SUN,

MAY 15, 1836.

THE announcement of the eclipse, to which this discourse refers, had escaped the observation of the Author, till long after the PENNY SUNDAY READER for the 15th of May had been printed, and he was, therefore, prevented from offering, as he would otherwise have done, in that Number, reflections suitable to the occurrence. As the best means of supplying the omission, he has printed the Sermon which he addressed to his parishioners on the occasion; and this forms his apology for putting forth a publication of so little pretension.

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