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be the portion of all the workers of it; for the Lord, who" is in His holy temple" hath spoken it, and against that just sentence the whole earth must "keep silence." The Evening Lesson introduces us to the Book of Proverbs, which the Church has reserved as a suitable conclusion of her Proper Lessons for that half of the year which she considers as practical; nor could any have been more appropriately chosen, for heavenly wisdom inspired the inestimable maxims it contains, and the highest earthly wisdom penned them.

PROVERBS i. 8.

"Forsake not the law of thy mother."

MOTHER! What tender thoughts that name recalls, Thou bliss of infancy, and manhood's pride!

At thought of thee, how warm the tear-drop falls,— Tears which e'en stoutest hearts disdain to hide!

Bound with thy name is all we prized in youth,
Home, kindred, early hopes, and brightest joy;
Each lesson of instruction, virtue, truth,
The only love that never knows alloy.

Thine are the first impressions we receive,
Thine deepest graven, thine the last forgot;
Pleasure may charm us or misfortune grieve;
Vice may betray, but ne'er thy image blot.

With thee are mingled all that touched us most,
Sharer of joy, best comforter of pain;
The love itself of which we after boast,
Is sweeter as it breathes of thee again.

Full many a weary year with me has sped,
My brow betrays what none beheld on thine,
Since, my loved mother, I beheld thee dead,
And saw thee borne within the holy shrine.

Oh! moment of distress, beyond whate'er
My aching bosom has of grief since known;
Of many a friend I've followed since the bier,
But never have I felt as then-alone.

I saw them lay thee in the grave; I heard
The solemn words consigning thee to dust:
Forgive, O Lord! if in that hour I err'd,
And in my anguish cast away my trust.

But sleep the painful thought! what though my breast Felt then, feels still the pang of active woe;

I have a mother yet on whom I rest,

Whose care for me no change can ever know.

In her loved bosom I have cradled been,
And she hath led my steps from youth till now;
My wayward temper she hath borne, nor e'en
Reproach e'er cast my spirit proud to bow.

And she hath borne neglect, and such neglect
As ne'er to earthly parent I have shown;
Yet her frail child has ceased not to protect

Or woo into the path oft shunned though known.

In weal or woe, in sickness or in health,

When kindness cheer'd me, or when foes oppressed,

In years of poverty, or days of wealth,

Her strength upheld me, or her comfort bless'd.

Nor will she ever leave me or forsake,

No death can wrest her from my trusting soul;
Beside my parting bed her stand she'll take,
And when I need it most, each pang control.

Gently my past offences she will chide,
Yet leave no error hidden from my view;
Shew me my guilt, but lest my strength subside,
Her pledge of pardon and of love renew.

And well, too well, I know that bitter tears
Of conscious guilt, of folly, she will draw;
Yet will her voice sound sweetest in my ears,
Temp'ring with humble hope, my trembling awe.

And when at length in death I shall be led
A home to ask, her sheltering arms will ope;

For that long slumber she will make my bed,
Will make my covering-faith; my pillow-hope.

That mother is the Church, my Saviour's bride,

By him for ever blessed, eternal made;

By his most Holy Spirit sanctified,

And in his robes of righteousness arrayed.

Then help me, Lord, nor let presumptuous thought

My weak unstable heart to sin betray;

Teach me to feel that safety must be sought

In thine own ark, in thy appointed way.

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LORD, we beseech Thee to keep Thy household the Church in continual godliness; that through Thy protection it may be free from all adversities and devoutly given to serve Thee in good works, to the glory of Thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The whole body of Christ's Church is one family, or as the Collect for the day expresses it- one household: unanimity, tenderness, forbearance and holiness, are therefore the indispensable duties of all its members. Without these we endanger its very safety, and dishonour that holy name whose glory should be our aim. They who utter this prayer with sincerity, do, in reality, renew their baptismal covenant, and engage themselves preserve the bond of peace, and to live in the righteousness of one faith, one Master, and one Lord.

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The Epistle strictly harmonizes with the Collect; and is a beautiful exemplification of that charity in his own character, which the Apostle so strongly and so feelingly inculcates upon us. In no portion of

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