tempered sobriety combined with the most unhesitating grasp of faith.

My object in this chapter has been the very humble one of supplying my readers with an index to the collects, so that if they need a prayer on any of the subjects named, they may the more readily turn to it. But it is difficult to estimate too highly the influence which the collects have had, interwoven as they are with our Communion Service. In the reverent use of them we draw very nigh unto God, while He draws nigh unto us.

"Him that cometh to Me I will in no wisecast out."-JOHN vi. 37. Just as I am-without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that thou bidd'st me come to Thee-
O Lamb of God, I come.

Just as I am and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot,

To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot-
O Lamb of God, I come.

Just as I am-though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without-
O Lamb of God, I come.

Just as I am-poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find-
O Lamb of God, I come.

Just as I am-Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve,
Because Thy promise I believe-
O Lamb of God, I come.

D

Just as I am-Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone-
O Lamb of God, I come.

Just as I am-of that free love

The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove, Here for a season, then above

O Lamb of God, I come.

C. ELLIOTT.

THE EPISTLES.

And immediately after the Collect the Priest shall read the Epistle, saying, The Epistle [or, The portion of Scripture appointed for the Epistle] is written in the beginning at the And the Epistle ended, he shall say, Here endeth the Epistle.

verse.

chapter of

"THE present selection of Epistles and Gospels may be traced through our English service books as far back as the time of Augustine. They occur for the most part in the Sarum Missal, with which those of York and Hereford usually coincide, and are found at an earlier date still (tenth century) in the manuscript missal of Leofric, Bishop of Exeter. They are also identical with those given in the most ancient lectionaries of the Roman Church" " This hoar antiquity of their selection gives additional interest to our study of these chosen portions of Holy Scripture.

The gift of the inspired Epistles to the Church was in fulfilment of our Lord's promise, Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth." Jesus Christ came forth from God to declare the Name of the Eternal Father. But it was reserved for the John xvi. 13.

a

Prayer Book Interleaved, p. 85.

Holy Spirit after the day of Pentecost to write that Name in all its grace and glory upon our hearts and lives. This will appear very plainly if we compare those portions of the Epistles and Gospels, which are selected for our meditation from week to week in the Prayer Book. The Gospels for the most part bring before us the facts of our Lord's life, His words and His works. The Epistles describe the effect of those facts in our hearts, and show how the life of Christ is to be reproduced in our life.

Hence the invaluable aid which the Epistles, as forming part of our Communion Service, supply for self-examination. Inasmuch as they present a constant succession of fresh truth, they differ from the Ten Commandments, which are read every week, and contain the inflexible and unchangeable moral law. The Commandments are the first great standard of reference; but the Epistles reveal to us the mind of Christ as written by the Holy Spirit on the mind of man.

This will be best seen by a few examples.

Take, for instance, the "First Sunday in Advent." The Gospel tells of our Lord's entry into Jerusalem and of His welcome by His disciples. The Epistle leads us on to His Second Advent, and calls us to cast off the works of darkness and to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. The collect gathers up the teaching of both.

Or take the "Sunday after Christmas Day." The

Gospel tells of the birth of our Lord and of His names, Jesus and Emmanuel. The Epistle speaks of our receiving the adoption of sons, and of the Spirit crying in our hearts, Abba, Father.

Or take "The Circumcision." The Gospel narrates this fact in our Lord's life. The Epistle urges that obedience of faith, of which circumcision was the sign and seal to Israel, as baptism is to us.

Or take "The Epiphany." The Gospel declares the manifestation of the infant Saviour to the wise men from the East. The Epistle tells of the great missionary embassy to the heathen, which was the life-work of St. Paul, which is our bounden duty and service, and which is the object of ab sorbing interest to the angels of God.

Or take quite a different instance, "Quinquagesima Sunday." The Gospel tells of Christ's supreme proof to man in laying down His life for us (compare Luke xviii. 31 with John xv. 13). The Epistle describes what true love is in the believer.

Or take the "First Sunday in Lent." The Gospel records Christ's temptation. The Epistle leads us to inquire whether we are willing to bear our daily cross as St. Paul and his fellow-soldiers bore it.

Or take the "Sunday next before Easter." The Gospel tells how Christ humbled Himself, even to the death of the Cross. The Epistle urges, Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ.