the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are." And so the Gospel of God went forth conquering and to conquer, triumphing over the prejudices, the superstitions, the pride, the selfishness of the world; over the stubbornness of the Jew, the learning of the Greek, the ignorance of the barbarian, the more than barbarian savageness of the Scythian, to whom our Apostle was commissioned to "do the work of an evangelist," and the power and grandeur of imperial Rome; "that no flesh should glory in his presence," and that Our faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

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Such reflexions may appear not unfit to occupy our minds on this festival of "the holy Apostle St. Andrew," the first called of the disciples, one of the first called of the Apostles, of our blessed Lord. And that these reflexions may produce their due effect upon our minds and hearts, let us offer our prayers in conclusion for the divine blessing; adopting for that purpose the language, provided upon this and

upon some other occasions in the Liturgy of our apostolical and scriptural Church.

Collect for the day.

"ALMIGHTY God, who didst give such grace to thy holy Apostle St. Andrew, that he readily obeyed the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ, and followed him without delay: Grant unto us all, that we, being called by thy holy word, may forthwith give up ourselves obediently to fulfil thy holy commandments; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen."

Collect for the second Sunday after Easter. "ALMIGHTY God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen."

The second Collect for Good Friday. "ALMIGHTY and everliving God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified; Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before thee for all

estates of men in thy holy Church, that every member of the same, in his vocation and ministry, may truly and godly serve thee; through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

The first Collect in the Ember weeks.

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who hast purchased to thyself an universal Church by the precious blood of thy dear Son; Mercifully look upon the same, and so guide and govern the minds of thy servants, the Bishops and Pastors of thy flock, that they may lay hands suddenly on no man, but faithfully and wisely make choice of fit persons to serve in the sacred ministry of thy Church. And to those which are ordained to any holy function give thy grace and heavenly benediction, that both by their life and doctrine they may set forth thy glory, and set forward the salvation of all men; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

Who leads the glorious company

The Apostles' sainted band?

First on the roll of duty see

The holy ANDREW stand.

He first the promised Saviour sought
Within his low abode;

And whom he found, to others taught,
The Christ and Lamb of God.

And he, among the first, the call To tend his Lord obey'd; Forsook his ship, his home, his all; And follow'd where he led.

"Fisher of men," by night, by day,
His ready toils he set;
Intent to close his captive prey
Within the Gospel net:

Nor scrupled he to yield his breath,
By many a labour tried,

And die with willing mind the death By which his Master died.

And now his name with service meet Leads on the sacred year:

And bids the Church prepare to greet

The Saviour's Advent near.

ST. THOMAS.

Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus.
JOHN XX. 24.

St.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF ST. THOMAS. THE second Saint, whom the Church commemorates in the course of the ecclesiastical year, is Thomas the Apostle and Martyr. Andrew is supposed to be the first, because the first called to the knowledge of Christ. With reference to which it has been remarked by Mr. Wheatley, that "St. Thomas's day seems to be placed next, not because he was the second that believed Jesus to be the Messiah, but the last that believed his resurrection: of which though he was at first the most doubtful, yet he had afterwards the greatest evidence of its truth; which the Church recommends to our meditation at this season, as a fit preparative to our Lord's Nativity. For unless we believe with St. Thomas, that the same Jesus, whose birth we immediately after commemorate, is the ve