his home, the little advantages and distinctions which might have gratified him on his way, become of no estimation. His“ hope, his joy, his crown of rejoicing,” centre withinwithin his abiding dwelling—that “house not made with hands,” to which “an entrance shall be administered abundantly” to those who reverence and obey that “good Shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep.” That you may experience through the even: ing of life that serenity of mind and “patience of hope,” which nothing but the faith of the Gospel can bestow, and may finally partake that fulness of joy, of which nothing but the faith of the Gospel can give us perfect assurance, is the daily prayer of, My dear Madam, Your very affectionate and faithful servant, SAMUEL HOOLE. RECTORY, POPLAR, Feb. 1833. CONTENT S. DISCOURSE I. ON PUBLIC WORSHIP. NEHEMIAH viii. part of ver. 4, 5, 6. 8. Page And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose.—And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people); and when he opened it, all the people stood up: and Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God; and all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands; and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.—So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading 1 DISCOURSE II. ON PUBLIC TEACHING. ROMANS X. 14. How then shall they call on Him, in whom they have not believed ? And how shall they believe in Him, of whom they have not heard ? And how shall they hear, without a preacher ? And how shall they preach, except they be sent ? 18 Page And they come unto thee, as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people; and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely sound of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well upon an instrument; for they hear thy words, but they do them not 33 And He said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground, and should sleep and rise, night and day, and the Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip ? He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father ? ..... a |