And they believe the blissful word,

For hope and faith are high;

But still the promise is deferred,
And various ills are nigh.

But he, the Comforter, the Guide,

Their Lord will quickly send;

And now in patience they abide
The coming of that Friend.

Yet in their thoughts they follow him,
And longing oft they gaze,

Track his bright steps till sight grows dim,
And view him in those rays.

Would we like them could henceforth lift
Our grovelling thoughts above,
Could make our hearts, now passion's drift,
Fit temples for his love.

Help us, O Lord! our faint desire

Make perfect by thy breath;

Grant us alike thy holy fire,

And quicken us from death.

235

WHITSUNDAY.

Morning Lessons, Deut. xvi. to v. 18. Evening Lessons, Isaiah xi.

GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people, by the sending to them the light of Thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus, our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

The three great feasts of the Christian Church were prefigured by those of the Jewish; the feast of Tabernacles being typical of Christ being made flesh and dwelling among men, is succeeded by our Christmas; that of the Passover by Easter; and that of Pentecost, or the giving of the Law, by Whitsunday; so close and intimate is the correspondence which exists between the New and Old Testament, so essentially the same is the former and the present dispensation, the Christian and the Jewish.

The term Whitsunday is derived from the following circumstance: Baptism in the early ages of the

Church, was administered only at Easter and Whitsunday, except in cases of necessity. At this time white garments were given to the Catechumens to remind them of the purity of the life they were required to lead, in which garments the new converts were ordered to appear in the Church each day of the week. The propriety of selecting these days for the administration of this holy Sacrament is obvious. As Christ died for our sins and rose again for our justification, which great event we celebrate at Easter, so in baptism we are required to die unto sin and to rise again unto righteousness, a new and spiritual birth being given us; while on this day the Apostles were baptised with the Holy Ghost and with fire, and three thousand converts were baptized by them, the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit being conferred with the outward act and sign.

The giving of the Moral Law was attended with circumstances of great terror; but the descent of the Holy Spirit, which was to write a new law in the hearts of men, was without any of those fearful accompaniments. Instead of the dreadful thunderings that shook Mount Sinai, and of the lightnings which threatened destruction to all, a mighty rushing wind indeed was heard, but only as if to arrest attention, and a gentle flame rested on each Apostle; investing them with power by which they should win men to obedience. These extraordinary gifts ceased with the necessity for them; but the ordinary gifts of the Spirit will continue in the Church, according to our Lord's promise, to the end of the world,

through those means which He himself instituted, and committed into the hands of the Apostles, and of His appointed ministers, their successors.

For this reason, Whitsun week has been made, with great propriety, one of the Ember weeks. The Collect, which serves also for the two following days, is framed accordingly, that all the members of the Church, people as well as clergy, may be endued with the gifts and graces, the especial work of the Holy Spirit, necessary for them. The Epistle is the historical account of the wonderful event, the subject of the day; and the Gospel records the promise of the Comforter given by our Lord, and of the blessed effects that should follow His coming. The Proper Lessons, as usual, are most just and appropriate. The first Morning Lesson contains the command of God to the Israelites for the observance of the three great feasts. In the second Lesson, the commencement of the general blessings of the Gospel to the Gentile as well as the Jew, is shown in the admission of Cornelius into the Church. The first Lesson for the Evening is prophetical of the universality and blessedness of Christ's kingdom; and the second establishes the truth of the prophecy in the historical account of the mighty way in which the word of God grew and multiplied.

Proper Psalms are appointed wherein the Spirit of God has clearly testified of Himself, affording additional proof that the work of man's redemption was the preconcerted plan of ages, and the certain but gradual unfolding of divine wisdom and mercy.

ISAIAH XI. 9.

The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

QUICKENING Spirit! God eternal!

By whose help the world was made ;

Source of life of joy eternal !

Homage glad to thee be paid.

Brooding o'er the breast of ocean,
Lo! beneath thy mighty wing
Form was given, and breath, and motion
Unto every living thing.

See the willing waves retreating,
Hills and fertile vales behold;
Gentle flocks on mountains bleating,
Round the bright sun clouds of gold.

Looks of love around are beaming,
Earth enamoured smiles on sky;
Sky with kindling rays is gleaming-
Nature's self is harmony.

Man, the image of his Maker,

Springs from earth endued with life

Glory of his great Creator,

Mind and body knew no strife.

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