end; has had patience with them notwithstanding their repeated sins; has proved to be a GOD of Mercy on their sincere repentance and amendment; all these comforts of God's Holy Word,' may well rejoice the believer's heart, and sustain his hopes amid adversity. CHRIST'S Holy Nativity and Circumcision, His Baptism, Fasting, and Temptation, His Agony and Bloody Sweat, His Cross and Passion, His precious Death and Burial, His glorious Resurrection and Ascension, together with the Coming of the HOLY GHOST,-all these blessed truths, faithfully received into an honest and good heart,' cannot but be productive of Heavenly Comfort: heralds are they of that Peace which the world can neither give nor take away.

The connexion of such a doctrine as this with the present solemn Season will be felt at once, when it is remembered that whatever the historical date of CHRIST's Second Advent may prove to be, He comes to every individual believer at the hour of Death;

and that hour can

not be very far distant from any of us; while it may be very close at hand in the case of some. This is a matter which deserves to be kept clearly before us at all times, and especially at this time. Let us not perplex ourselves with any specula

tions about the historical question, which really concerns us but little. The immense variety of opinions which have been expressed on this subject by the most learned writers, is enough to convince such as we are that we have not the necessary faculties for investigations of this class.

It

may well content us to fall back on the unmistakeable statements of the SPIRIT in connexion with our LORD's ultimate appearance.

Behold, I come quickly,' He says; and the words occur in the concluding portion of the Book of Life. As if to give additional emphasis to that great announcement, He repeats, ere He permits His servant John to close the sacred record,Surely I come quickly.' This is in fact the very last statement of the SPIRIT. The New Testament may be said to conclude with those words.

What then is the Church's office and the believer's duty in this respect? The Church's office is to bring the thought of Judgment to come, vividly before the minds of all her children to tell them of its terrors, and to warn them at once of its certainty, and of its nearness. She is not faithful unless she makes them feel that this is a strictly private and personal concern; a matter which comes home to the inmost cona Rev. xxii. 12.

science of every one of them. And it cannot be said that the Church has neglected this duty. The Advent Season is a perpetual record of her faithfulness. May we not add that the Church of England has evinced her own tender care of her children in a very special manner in giving the earliest place she could to the 'comfort of the Scriptures,' in connexion with this Doctrine; and reminding us, (as she so earnestly does in this day's Collect,) that thereby we may (GOD helping us,) embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting Life ?'

Our own duty is gratefully to accept her warning, and gladly to follow her counsel. If we have never yet been methodical and earnest in our study of the Bible, why should we not strive to become so from to-day? Should many words be needed to induce men to embrace their truest good? Remember the word unto Thy servant, upon which Thou hast caused me to hope,'-was the exclamation of the Psalmist in his hour of trouble; and can we doubt that the Almighty allowed his plea? Have we not his express testimony in the very next verse,-This my comfort in my affliction, for Thy word hath quickened me?'

is

Third Sunday in Advent.

THE UNEXPECTED MANNER OF CHRIST'S COMING.

ST. MATTHEW xi. 2, 3.

Now when John had heard in the prison the works of CHRIST, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto Him, Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?

It has been the subject of considerable discussion what was the Baptist's purpose when He sent two of his disciples to our LORD with this inquiry. Some have supposed that John himself doubted others, with more reason, have thought that his purpose was to satisfy his disciples. Perhaps a yet more satisfactory explanation of the matter might be suggested. For example, the Baptist, immured in a prison, may have wished for that confirmation of his own Faith in our SAVIOUR as the MESSIAH, which he was sure that our SAVIOUR would instantly afford him. And when all the circumstances of the case are considered, this will perhaps seem the most satisfactory explanation of all.

For it should be borne in mind that the Baptist's Ministry was not certainly of more than one year's duration; and that when it was drawing to its close, our LORD came to him for Baptism, in the manner described by all the Evangelists. Three days after that event, our SAVIOUR departed into Galilee; and for aught that appears to the contrary, neither beheld the face of the other any more. John was immediately thrown into a dungeon; and at the end of two years, was barbarously murdered. The first year of the Baptist's imprisonment had elapsed when the incident recorded in the text took place. Is it extraordinary that he should have desired to ask such a question at such a time? Surely, the wonder would rather have been if he could have endured to linger out all the tedious period of his captivity in the darkness of a dungeon, without once seeking for a ray of Light from Him who is the source of all Light and Glory!

The only subject however which it concerns us to observe for our present purpose is that need was felt of some Testimony which might be for the confirmation of belief, if not for the actual dispersion of doubt, in some quarter and we will not dispute by whom the feeling was entertained. We will but point out that the uncer