2 Timothy. chap. iii. verse 16. UNTO a christian man there can be nothing either more necessary or profitable than the knowledge of holy Scripture, forasmuch as in it is contained God's true Word, setting forth his glory, and also man's duty. And there is no Truth nor Doctrine necessary for our justification and everlasting salvation, but that is (or may be) drawn out of that Fountain and Well of Truth. And (as the great Clerk and godly Preacher St. John Chrysostom saith) whatsoever is required to the Salvation of Man, is fully contained in the Scripture of God. He that is ignorant, may there learn and have knowledge. He that is hard-hearted, and an obstinate sinner, shall there find everlasting torments (prepared of God's justice) to make him afraid, and to mollify or soften him. He that is oppressed with misery in this world, shall there find relief in the promises of everlasting life to his great consolation and comfort. He that is wounded by the Devil unto death, shall find there medicine whereby he may be restored again unto health. If it shall require to teach any truth, or reprove false doctrine, to rebuke any vice, or commend any virtue, to give good counsel, to comfort or exhort, or to do any other thing requisite for our salvation, all those things (saith St. Chrysostom) we may learn plentifully of the Scripture. It, teacheth patience in all adversity, in prosperity humbleness: What honour is due unto God, what mercy and charity to our neighbour. In reading of God's Word, he not always most profiteth that is most ready in turning of the book, or of saying of it without the book, but he that is most turned into it, that is most inspired with the Holy Ghost, most in his heart and life altered and changed into that thing which he readeth: he that is daily less and less proud, less wrathful, less covetous, and less desirous of worldly and vain pleasures. He that daily (forsaking his old vicious life) increaseth in virtue more and more....From the first Homily. 2 Thess. chap. ii. ver. 15. 2 Concerning the Service of the Church 3 Concerning Ceremonies, why some be abolished and some retained. 4 The Order how the Psalter is ap- 5 The Order how the rest of the holy Scripture is appointed to be read. 6 A table of proper Lessons and Psalms 1 The Calendar with the table of Lessons 8 Tables and Rules for the Feasts and Fasts throughout the whole Year. 9 The Order for Morning Prayer. 10 The Order for Evening Prayer. 11 The Creed of St. Athanasius. 13 Prayers and Thanksgivings upon 14 The Collects, Epistles, and Gospels, to be used at the ministraton of the holy Communion throughout the Year. 15 The Order of the ministration of the 16 The Order of Baptism, both Public THIS Liturgy is honoured by all but the Romanist, A COMPANION FOR MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. THUS SAITH THE LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.....Jer. ch. vi. ver. 16. In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.....Isaiah, ch. xxx. ver. 15. THE TWENTY-THIRD ARTICLE OF RELIGION OF MINISTERING IN THE CONGREGATION. It is not lawful for any man to take upon him the Office of public preaching, or ministering the Sacraments in the Congregation, before he be lawfully called and sent, to execute the same. And those we ought to judge lawfully called and sent, which be chosen and called to this work by men* who have public authority given unto them in the Congregation, to call and send Ministers into the Lord's vineyard. No man shall be accounted or taken to be a lawful Bishop, Priest, or Deacon, in the United Church of England and Ireland, or suffered to execute any of the said functions, except he be called, tried, examined, and admitted thereunto, according to the form hereafter following, or hath had formerly EPISCOPAL CONSECRATION, OR ORDINATION. (From the Preface to the Form and Manner of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons.) [*The Bishops.] Galatians, chap. iii. verse 27. He considers with the learned and judicious HOOKER, "that much hurt hath grown to the church of God through a false imagination, that fasting standeth men in no stead for any spiritual respect, but only to take down the frankness of nature, and to tame the wildness of flesh. Whereupon the world being bold to surfeit, doth now blush to fast, supposing that men when they fast, do rather bewray a desire, than exercise a virtue. I much wonder what they who are thus persuaded do think, what conceit they have concerning the fasts of the Patriarchs, the Prophets, the Apostles, our Lord Jesus Christ himself." He reads "that DAVID chastened his soul with Fasting; and DANIEL Sought the Lord not only with Prayers and Supplications, but with Fasting. ANNA served and worshipped God in Prayers and Fastings night and day. CORNELIUS was Fasting, as well as Praying, when the vision came, that brought salvation to his house. When PAUL and BARNABAS were to be ordained Apostles, there were Fastings joined to Prayers; and ST. PAUL approved himself a minister of God in Fastings as well as Labours and Watchings. He kept his body under, and brought it into subjection; lest, while he preached to others he himself should be a castaway." And a Churchman knows "that though our Saviour hath left no positive precept about Fasting, yet He joins it with Almsgiving and Prayer, unquestionable duties; and the directions He gave in his admirable sermon upon the mount, concerning the performance of it, sufficiently suppose the necessity of the duty; which, if governed by such rules as our Saviour there lays down, will be accepted by God; and openly rewarded by him. Besides, our Saviour says expressly, that the time should come, when his Disciples should fast. And when He brings in the pharisee boasting that he fasts twice in the week, our Saviour in no manner blames him for fasting, but corrects his vanity for boasting of it."-From Nelson's Fasts and Festivals. 2 Timothy. chap. iii. verse 16. THE LESSONS PROPER FOR SUNDAYS AND HOLY DAYS IN LENT, Are so wisely ordered and so very properly chosen, as to contain the best and most complete system of repentance that hath ever yet been published to the world. On Thursday before Easter the 9th ch. of DANIEL is the Lesson appointed for morning service, and by comparing our own practice with the example and words of holy Daniel, which our Church hath this morning set before us; that is to say, if we have imitated him-(this Lenten season especially)—and set our faces unto the Lord God, as he did, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes-(i. e. have faithfully discharged the duties of this penitential season)—and have prayed unto the Lord our God, and made our confessions before him, as the beloved Daniel did; then may we be assured, that as the Angel appeared to him to give him skill and understanding, so the blessed Comforter, who our Lord promised should come, will come to us, to give us comfort; and we shall sweetly find that beatitude verified in our hearts, "Blessed are they that have mourned; for they shall be comforted.-Wogan. LUKE, 22 CHAP. 19—20 VER. Forth from the dark and stormy sky Forth from the world its hope and fear Long have we roam'd in want and pain, Lord, at thy feet our sins we lay: Turn not, Oh Lord! thy guests away!-BISHOP HEBER |