souls, who, however often washed, by falling again into sin, return to wallow in the mire. These obstinate sinners, the devil taking full and final possession, will drown in "the bottomless pit" of endless horrors. Of all sins, the lust of uncleanness, when, by indulgence, it becomes a habit, is the most hopeless of cure, as we see proved also in the case of drunkenness. The mind is darkened, the eye of the soul shut against the light of heaven, and the impenitent sinner is hurried over a precipice into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Rev. xxi. 8). For, although hardened sinners will not believe, the word of God is eternal truth, and its threats will be fulfilled as well as its promises. But while they live, there is still some hope, growing, however, more and more faint. And therefore we heartily pray that He Who is both Almighty and All-merciful, the Redeemer of lost man (Who appeared for that purpose, when He sent His converted Apostle to the Gentiles), would "turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them who are sanctified by faith in Christ." The proper Lessons agree well with the rest of the service for the day. They assure us that there is no peace to the wicked, who are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt,—a lively figure of their disordered passions and of the bad effects of sinful lusts. Repentance and conquest of all wicked desires by the power of sincere and inward as well as the outward form of religion (which must never be separated), can alone restore us to divine peace and happy tranquillity in our Saviour Christ; for so the mouth of the Lord hath spoken. He descended from His high and lofty throne to revive the contrite and penitent, and give rest to the humble and meek. Services for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany. Morning Lesson, Isaiah lix. The Collect.-O Lord, we beseech Thee to keep Thy Church and household continually in Thy true religion; that they who do lean only upon the hope of Thy heavenly grace may evermore be defended by Thy mighty power; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Gospel for Sunday last presented to us the Church in a storm at sea; a striking emblem or sign of this changing tempestuous world; yet manifesting our Divine Jesus to be our sure Saviour, "God with us," Almighty and Eternal, although clothed in the weakness of our mortal nature, that He might be our safety in danger, and our life in death. For the safe keeping and defence of the Church, the vessel of Christ's own framing and building, in which we are all embarked for the port of Paradise, the special prayer for this day is made. Every single member of the Church is interested in its welfare; therefore we should most heartily pray that it may be kept and guided in the true religion, and, by the influence of Divine grace, may be evermore defended by Almighty power. The temper of the members of the Church-the sailors and voyagers of this mystic ship, whether governors or those committed to their conduct-is well and clearly taught in the Epistle. All quiet and humbly submissive (for strife and tumult among them would put them in danger of perishing), each cheerfully and lovingly acting his part in the place appointed for him, and encouraging his fellows by Divine love, its heavenly music giving joy to the heart, and driving off the evil spirit of melancholy and sullenness. Where Jesus is, there is true joy, even in the midst of worldly sorrow. The danger of the Church under another figure -changing the scene from the sea to a field enclosed (or shut in) on the land-is represented by the devil's watchfulness while the spiritual labourers sleep. He lays hold of that opportunity to sow his tares, the seeds of schism, heresy, and doctrines most harmful to the souls of men. These at first grow up without being seen, the worst of errors having put on the appearance of goodness and of great zeal for the revival of faith and holiness. The sects and parties which spring up in consequence are most ruinous to the true faith, and that unity of spirit in the bond of peace for which the Lord of the Vineyard so earnestly prayed at the time of His Passion (sufferings). He prayed that K it might prevail among His followers for the safety of His true religion, which is much kept back in its progress, and cramped in its fruits of holiness and righteousness, by the overspreading growth of these hurtful weeds. "The time will come," the Apostle foretold, "when men will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and shall turn away their ears from the truth" (2 Tim. iv. 3). For the truth is old, and has no charms of novelty to tickle the fancies of unstable people, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine. The truth, like Him Who is truth itself, as well as the way that leads to life, is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Meantime He is merciful and gracious, and waits long, forbearing to pull up these unhappy tares, or to treat them harshly, in hope that they may change their hue in His field, that the tares may become wheat. But He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness, and make a full and final separation between the tares and the wheat, in that great harvest of the world. In the Morning Lesson, the disordered and weakly state of the Church, corrupted by the enemy, is feelingly pointed out; in that for the Evening, we read the Church's longing desire, amidst her sorrows, for her full deliverance, her complete redemption from sin and death, and lasting state of heavenly happiness. And for this she looks forward to the time when He, Who came once in great humility, shall rend the heavens and come down in great glory to conquer the whole dominion-the proud mountains of the enemy; and to carry those who, with faith and patience, have waited for Him, to the unseen pleasure, greater than man can conceive, of the everlasting kingdom of joy and glory. Happy are they, in time and eternity, who with firm faith and steady holiness look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come, sealed with the faithful. Amen. Services for the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany. Morning Lesson, Isaiah lxv. Gospel, St. Matthew xxiv. 23. The Collect.-O God, Whose blessed Son was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil, and make us the sons of God, and heirs of eternal life; grant us, we beseech Thee, that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves, even as He is pure; that, when He shall appear again with power and great glory, we may be made like unto Him in His eternal and glorious kingdom; where with Thee, O Father, and Thee, O Holy Ghost, He liveth and reigneth, ever One God, world without end. Amen. As the Advent, so the Epiphany of our Lord is twofold. When first He came and was manifested to destroy the works of the prince of darkness, and give light unto the world, He then, that He |