MONDAY IN EASTER WEEK.

Morning Lessons, Exodus xvi. Evening Lessons, Exodus xvii. St. Matt. xxviii.

Epistle, Acts x. 34.

Acts iii.

Gospel, St. Luke xxiv. 13.

COLLECT.

ALMIGHTY GOD, who through Thy only begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech Thee, that as by Thy special grace preventing us, Thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by Thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

The whole of Easter week was formerly kept holy, but especially the two first days. Unhappily, in our times, these days have lost their sacred character, and degenerated into mere holidays, in which Christian purity and Christian knowledge are utterly lost sight of. The Church, however, is unaltered in her views and in her solicitude for the honour of their Lord; and by her appointed service affords opportunity to her more devout children of keeping alive the holy flame of joyful devotion.

The Collect for this and the following day is that for Easter Sunday. The first Morning Lesson offers for our meditation that type of our blessed Lord conveyed in the manna sent for the nourishment of the Israelites in the wilderness, Christ being the true bread which came down from heaven, "of which whosoever eateth hath eternal life." The first Lesson for the Evening offers another striking type of Christ, in the defeat of the Amalekites by the holding up of the hands of Moses, in which posture his figure represented that of the Cross. The smiting of the rock, contained in the same chapter, from whence issued fresh streams of water, is another obvious type of Him from whose blessed side when wounded should issue that living water which should prove refreshment unto life to all who should taste it. The second Lessons afford full evidence of our Lord's resurrection; that for the Morning giving an historical account of the miracle, while "that for the Evening,' says Wheatley, "containing a relation of the lame man being restored to his feet, through faith in the name of Christ, was an undeniable proof that He was then alive.”

The Epistle and Gospel are too plain to need comment or explanation.

ST. LUKE xxiv. 21.

But we trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed
Israel.

How often when affliction lays
Its heavy hand upon our head;
Imperfect faith itself betrays
In sighs by blindness only fed.
We measure God by our own rule,
By human sense his purpose scan,
And though we dare not ridicule-
Deny the wisdom of the plan.

Still"fools and slow of heart" to see,

Let clouds our sky but overcast ;

We cling to joys about to flee,

And shrink with dread beneath the blast.

Complain how heavy is our lot-
God's dealings with us how severe;
And blind and weak discover not
That mercy glows in every tear.

That by a secret chain he leads
Our erring steps to ways of peace;
Our souls with heavenly manna feeds,
When earth's provisions seem to cease.

Our garments soiled and stained by sin,
Are whitened oft by sharpest grief;
Till glowing bright and pure within
The shades of woe form soft relief.

Still none correction sweet may deem
While yet the grievous smart is felt;
Nor heed we that the fiery stream,
Is meant th' offensive dross to melt.
But who are we that we should dare
God's holy dealings to arraign?
Did he his own begotten spare ?

Lay not His road to heaven through pain?

And thus the weak disciples mourned
Destruction of their hopes, and thought

That God from him his face had turned,
Who Israel's freedom should have wrought.
His mild correction led them right;

He shewed that sufferings were a part
Of that great scheme which brought to light
God's love to man,-Hell's cruel art.

So of the Church her sons have deemed
Her glory set, her beauty gone;
When by fierce foes beset she seemed,
Betrayed, and, like her Lord, alone.

From persecution's fiery brand

They feared she never more would rise;
Nor saw the blood that stained the land
Her seed should prove 'neath milder skies.

And though the storm that long has slept,
Again should rise with greater rage,
Our God its strength can intercept,

Its wildest furies can assuage.

Purged of defilement caught from sin,

She, like the stone that wrapped the dead,*
From out the glowing flames shall win

The pureness of her glorious head.

While by such means her greater strength,

Her inward peace may be secured,
And firmer based, she spread at length

Her arms o'er all in love assured.

Then having shared his woe, contempt,

Amidst a sinful, careless world;
Triumphant she, from change exempt,

Shall reign when earth to nought is hurled.

* Cloth made of the fibres of the asbestos being imperishable in fire, was used for preserving the ashes of those whose bodies were committed to the flames. In order to cleanse it, it was necessary only to expose it to that element.