embracing only the Lessons and Psalms; the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel; and the addition to the Preface in the Communion Service. Besides these, it substitutes a special Anthem for its introductory Psalm on Easter Day, and uses a "Commination" Service on Ash Wednesday. This is absolutely all; and, were it not for hymnody, there would be little to help Anglican worshippers to realise any of the solemn occasions of their Calendar.

In the Liturgy which the Apostles have given us we feel that either extreme has been avoided, while everything has been done to bring the thoughts and feelings proper to the holy seasons vividly into our minds. The Services of obligation the Holy Eucharist and the Daily Matins and Vespers afford in their numerous variable portions every opportunity for appropriate language, and advantage has been abundantly taken thereof. The less defined Offices of Forenoon and Afternoon Prayer allow of the introduction of much of the gold of the Greek and Roman Service Books. Thus we have the "O Wisdom of God" in Advent, the Improperia on Good Friday, and the special Versicles and Responds on Easter Eve, Easter Day, and Ascension Day. We have but to think, moreover, of the Services for Holy Thursday and Good Friday, for the Eve of Pentecost, and for All Saints' Day, to feel how greatly we have been helped by the liturgical forms originated for us by Apostles to enter into the spirit of the sacred occasions of the Church.

Another and hardly less important instrument for effecting this purpose is the ministry of word. Where this can be heard, and the service of the Liturgy joined in, nothing more is needed. But there are many who are so situated that, occasionally if not habitually, they are

beyond the reach of one or both of these means. For such the following pages are designed. Their aim is to supply them, for every Sunday and Holy Day throughout the year, with a Reading appropriate thereto. It is the author's earnest prayer that these may be helpful to their readers in building them up in their most holy faith, in enabling them to continue steadfastly in Apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in encouraging them in looking for that blessed hope and the glorious Appearing for which we wait.

READINGS

FOR THE SUNDAYS AND HOLYDAYS OF THE CHURCH'S YEAR.

FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT.

“The night is far spent: the day is at hand.”

I.

ONCE more the trumpet-note of the Advent Epistle has pealed upon our ears, and we have heard the words, "It is high time for us to awake out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore put off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light." Be it our task at this time to examine the fact alleged by the Apostle as the ground of his exhortation.

"The night is far spent, the day is at hand." What night, and what day? The night, commentators are apt to say, is the darkness of heathenism, then fast melting into day as the light of the Gospel overspread the world. But if this be so, what means the word"Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed"? That the night is far spent and the day at hand but

A

repeats this in different language; the day which is at hand is the salvation which is near. And this "salvation" is not the grace of the past and present, that came when we believed and comes as we believe. It is a future thing; it is nearer now than it was when we believed. What can it be but that of which it is said—“ Unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation." What is the night but His absence, the day but His return? Who is the Sun of Righteousness arising with healing in His wings?

While He was in the world, He was the Light of the world, and could say, "Walk while ye have the Light with you." When He left this world, and went unto the Father, night-the sudden darkness of an Eastern sky— fell upon it. "The whole world," says the Apostle, "lieth in darkness." And though in those who, while they had the Light, believed in the Light, and so could become children of Light-though in these, I say, sending down His own Spirit upon them, He lit up the light of eternal life, so that while all Egypt is in darkness, in their land of Goshen there is light; yet was this an interior illumination only. Though not of the world, they were in it; though "not of the night nor of darkness," yet they knew it all around them, and rejoiced to believe that the night was far spent, and the day of their Lord's return at hand.

And is it otherwise now? The light which was kindled in their hearts has indeed burned on through the ages, and shines to-day in ours. It has streamed into the surrounding gloom, and done something to dispel it: but it has not made the day. The world still lies in darkness, and waits for a future dawn: and we also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, wait with it. Apostles