Services for the Fourth Sunday in Advent. Morning Lesson, Isaiah xxx. Gospel, St. John i. 19. Collect.-O Lord, raise up (we pray Thee) Thy power, 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 Advent, that is, the coming of Christ, has been the desire of mankind ever since Adam was for his sin banished from paradise. All nature felt the bruise of Adam's fall; the whole creation lay groaning and travailing in pain after sin had brought death into the world. The best of men felt the sore disease, and groaned within themselves for redemption (Rom. viii.). Miserable creatures desired a merciful deliverance; but justice stood in the way of mercy, and must have full satisfaction made to it, before mercy could take place. The whole creation could not make atonement to infinite justice, for created things could not make atonement to their Creator. We may see our desperate case set forth in that chapter of the prophet Isaiah which is appointed by the Calendar of Daily Lessons to be read on the morning of the day before Christmas. "The Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no judgment. And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His arm brought salvation to Him, and His righteousness it sustained Him" (Is. lix.). That righteousness and peace might embrace, that infinite justice and infinite mercy might be reconciled, the Lord Himself took upon Him our nature; He became Immanuel, that is, God with us, God and man in one person; man to suffer, and God to satisfy, and to make that suffering of such worth that it could atone for the sins of the whole world. The first promise of this Divine Redeemer and His redemption was made in paradise, when it was said, "The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head;" and from that time till He came to fulfil the promise, His coming was the desire of all the faithful. The words of Isaiah spoke the wish of the whole earth when he said, “ O that Thou wouldest rend the heavens, that Thou wouldest come down!" (Is. Ixiv. 1.) At length, through the tender mercy of our God, the Dayspring from on high visited this dark world. The welcome messenger sent before the Lamb of God, prepared His way, and gave knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins. He did this by preaching repentance. He taught the great truth that repentance must go before remission of sins; for the Son of God came not to save His people in but from their sins, to deliver them not only from the punishment, but from the practice of sin. So Isaiah speaks in the chapter which is read on the day before our Lord's Nativity. "The Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord" (Is. lix.). So ends the volume of the Old Testament with the words of the prophet Malachi: "Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings" (Mal. iv. 2). That we may so use His first coming as to escape the curse and obtain the blessing of His second coming, the services of this last Sunday are appointed. The Collect speaks in a penitential strain, lamenting our slow progress in that race of righteousness which must be run before we can reach its happy end. And, therefore, we earnestly pray for our Lord's spiritual coming, that He would send His grace to prepare our hearts and come among us, pardoning what is past and strengthening us to run our race for the future. The Epistle warns us that our Lord is at hand, and bids us rejoice for the glad tidings of His approach. The most sorrowful exercises of religion sow the seeds of sincere joy. Yet our joy must still be tempered with holy fear, and the practice of moderation or meekness. "Let your moderation be known unto all men." In the mind which is well furnished with Christian virtues, there will be no room for carking care; our devout recourse to God will keep the heart in peace and repose in Christ, and raised far above the changes and vexations of the world. And therefore it follows, "Be careful for nothing." The holy Baptist, in the Gospel, again calls us to Christ, the only object of true eternal joy. St. John's voice in the wilderness can best be heard in quietness of mind; and in order to hear it we must keep our hearts clear from worldly tumult, even if our hands are busy in the station of life to which God has called us. It is part of man's duty to labour, and need not hinder us from standing with lamps burning and newly-trimmed, ready to meet the heavenly Bridegroom, that He may save us from sin and sorrow. The threatenings and warnings of the proper Lessons are meant to withdraw us from false trust in this sinful world, which will be to us what Egypt was to the Israelites; such trust is the worst bondage, and our true strength is in our Rock, who never can be moved; our King, whose reign is righteousness; our hiding-place from the tempest; our shelter and refreshment in this weary land. Thus should we refer to our own spiritual improvement the history of God's people of old; for the things which happened to them are written, says St. Paul, for examples and warnings, and for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world THE SEASON OF CHRISTMAS. First Sunday after Christmas. ET us at this season approach Him with awe and love, in whom resides all perfection, and from whom we are allowed to gain it. Let us come to the Sanctifier to be sanctified. Let us come to Him to learn our duty, and to receive grace to do it. At other seasons of the year we are reminded of watching, toiling, and suffering; but at this season we are reminded simply of God's gifts towards us sinners; "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." We are reminded that we can do nothing and that God does every thing. This is especially the season of grace. We come to see and to experience God's mercies. We come before Him as the helpless beings, during His ministry, who were brought on beds and couches for a cure. We come to be made whole. We come as little children to be fed and taught, as new-born babes, desiring the sincere milk of the Word, that we may grow thereby" (1 Pet. ii. 2). 66 This is a time for innocence, and purity, and gentleness, and mildness, and contentment, and |