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THE CIRCUMCISION.

Morning Lessons, Gen. xvii. Evening Lessons, Deut. x. 12.

Romans ii.

Coloss. ii.

Epistle, Romans iv. 8.

Gospel, St. Luke ii. 15.

COLLECT.

ALMIGHTY GOD, who madest Thy blessed Son to be circumcised, and obedient to the law for man; Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit; that, our hearts, and all our members, being mortified from all worldly and carnal lusts, we may in all things obey Thy blessed will; through the same Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

He that knew no sin was made sin for us, and became in all things obedient to the law for our sakes; and for this reason, which ought to be impressed in the most lively manner on our mind and heart,—that, whilst in all respects he should bear the pain of the sufferings to which he voluntarily submitted, we might enjoy the advantages arising from them. On this day, therefore, in conformity with the law, he began to bleed for us, proving himself to be truly man, (being God at the same time,) and that he came to bear the mark and punishment of our offences. That we may indeed profit by what he has endured for us, we must use the most strenuous

exertions to acquire the true circumcision of the Spirit by entering into the full meaning and temper of the excellent Collect appointed for that day.

It

The Epistle clearly illustrates the true design and mystery of the rite of circumcision, viz. the cutting off and casting away sin, and consecrating our souls and bodies in purity to God. The Gospel leads us immediately to our Divine Saviour as the only means of enabling us to accomplish this great end. should be remembered that circumcision answers to our baptism, in both of which rites the parties are admitted into covenant with God, and in consequence are distinguished by a new name to mark that service. Our Lord received that of JesusSaviour, and it was one of peculiar import and meaning. "In this adorable name," to use the words of an excellent prelate,* "all the mysteries of wisdom and knowledge, all the treasures of grace and saving virtue are laid up, with the conquest of sin and death." Hence it is that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father."

The Proper Lessons, morning and evening, give us an account both of the letter and spirit of circumcision; the first, with the command shewing the Jew the spiritual import of it, and the latter pointing out that its perpetual obligation is increased rather than diminished by the grace of the Gospel.

* Jolly.

ST. LUKE ii. 21.

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus.

THEY err who think our Saviour's pains
With the last direful week began:

From the first hour that saw him man
He suffered for our guilty stains.

With grief acquaint, a man of woes,
E'en from the cradle to the tomb,
A life of sorrow his, and gloom;
His last sad plaint was but the close.

At first a naked child exposed
To wants his creatures rarely feel;
Next bleeding from the painful steel,
His plaintive cries the smart disclosed.

Jesus, our Saviour, name adored,
Pledge of our peace, thou sinner's stay,
Whom all in earth and heaven obey,
By demons feared, acknowledged Lord.

Well at thy name may every knee
In holy adoration bow;

Of things above, of things below,
Through time, and all eternity.

And glad the faithful servant sees
Such veneration duly paid;

He holds the outward gesture made
With inward reverence agrees.

But love we not on woe to dwell,
And cloudless would the mercy share;
Nor wish to think why he should bear
The wrath of Heaven, the rage of Hell.

Selfish amidst e'en holy joy,

We reck not our redemption's cost;
We know without Christ we were lost,

And more our pleasure might destroy.

Lord, teach us better to discern

What thou hast done,-what we must do; Nor let thy Holy Spirit woo,

And we refuse to hear, to learn.

Assist us that thy precious blood

May not for us in vain be shed;

This taunt remove-" Your Lord has bled,

And ye his sufferings have withstood."

This day another year begins,

Then grant that it begin with thee;

From every folly set us free,

And help us to forsake our sins.

Thy hand sustained us through the last,
And various have thy mercies been;

Or known to us, or quite unseen,

Thou hast in safety held us fast.

An unknown path before us lies,
But whether weal or woe betide,
Be thou our best, our surest guide,
The surer, as time swifter flies.

Thy hand will clothe the leafless bowers;
The fields, the groves, will smile again ;
But who shall tell if not in vain

For us may smile those fields, those flowers?

Perhaps for office sad they bloom;

Some tender hand and aching breast
May those select we loved the best,

To wither with us in the tomb.

And be it so, if such thy will,

"Our times" are thine-we own the right—

Secure in thine, our Saviour's might,

We lean upon thy mercy still.