The Fifth Sunday after Trinity.

The Collect. RANT, O Lord, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE COLLECT.-Peace is dear to the Christian by the very principles of his new nature. He serves the Prince of Peace, and peace in his own heart is the first-fruits of the blessing which he has received from Christ. But he beholds the world oppressed with strife and tumult; or, if ceasing for a while from warring with its own members, preparing to assail the sanctuaries of religion. Peace, therefore, is the subject of his most earnest petitions; and if Christians were more careful than they are to cultivate the virtues which become the profession of the Gospel, their prayers for this blessing for themselves and mankind at large would prove the most efficient labour they can perform in the service of humanity. The Church—that is, the true and spiritual Church of Christ, is the sole minister of peace on earth. It is its peculiar province to teach and persuade men to cultivate the grace of charity as the bond of perfectness; and it is in this its especial capacity and office, that it offers up prayer for the peaceable governance of the world. The tranquillity of mankind at large, furthered by its supplications, secures its own joy and godly quietness, each, by the ordinance of a merciful God, being made to influence the other.

B

The Epistle. 1 St. Pet. iii. 8.

E ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous; not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called,

that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.

The Gospel. St. Luke v. 1.

T came to pass, that as the people pressed upon him to hear the Word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesareth, and saw two ships standing by the lake; but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and

THE EPISTLE.-Strife in the Christian Church is one of the scandals which have done most harm to the souls of men. The unity of the Spirit is surely forgotten when controversy, losing the characteristics of a humble inquiry after truth, presents all the features of angry disputation and rivalship. Kindness, courtesy, and love unfeigned are the ornaments of the family of Christ. They who cultivate not these virtues fail in making good their pretensions to the name of His people, or the blessings which belong to His Church. The assumption of a name-the possession of titles and dignities-the homage of the world-even the performance of many duties,-nothing, in short, can make up for the want of that mutual compassion, and refraining from recrimination which the Apostle urges so pathetically on the professors of the Gospel.

prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land: and he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing; nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes, and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken; and so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not, from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

THE GOSPEL.-The words of Christ had a power in them which belonged to the preaching of none who had preceded Him. We read not that the people pressed to hear Isaiah or Malachi. The first time, it is probable, that they were ever addressed in the plain and simple words which call to repentance because of the wrath to come, was when St. John began to preach on the banks of the Jordan. Preaching is an evangelical ordinance. The ceremonial law preached to the people in former times; and in almost every institution in which signs and pomps and ceremonies are much employed, direct preaching is only slightly practised. But whatever was the case with the Jews in earlier times, it is little to be doubted but that since the time of Malachi the instructions they received were poor and meagre. The law and the prophets, imperfectly understood, were timidly taught even by the Scribes. When our Lord, therefore, preached to the people openly, and with the full authority of a teacher of righteousness, they were astonished, and pressed eagerly to hear Him. His intended Apostles were among His auditors on this occasion, and the power of His words was, for their sake, accompanied with a demonstration of His authority not only over the minds of men, but over universal nature. The result proved that He had not exercised His power in vain. Deeply impressed with the signs of divinity which they beheld, Simon Peter and the sons of Zebedee acknowledged the right of Jesus to the service of their lives. No vow was made, for a vow was not needed where the whole man was given. We read not how, or when Judas joined himself to the band of Apostles; but this we know, that one grand circumstance was wanting in the completion of his call which characterized that of the holy men whose conduct is here described. He followed Christ; but he did not forsake all; he probably forsook nothing which had before occupied his base and worldly heart. This is a test to which we may profitably put not only the more distinguished servants of Christ, but all who profess to believe His Gospel.

The Sixth Sunday after Trinity.

GOD, who hast prepared for them that love thee such good things as pass man's understanding; Pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE COLLECT.-God has prepared for His people successive grades of felicity, and at every ascent they make, some fresh proof is afforded of His infinite compassion. But while reason and revelation agree in assuring us of the love of God, we are taught with equal clearness by the simplest principles of gratitude, that the profoundest homage of our hearts and minds is due in return to Him. Convinced of this, how gladly do His children worship Him! but sensible of the imperfection of their best acknowledgments of His goodness, they never cease to pray that they may be enabled by His own Spirit to love Him more and more. When we can love Him, the supreme and perfect good, above all things, then shall we be fit to enter into the enjoyment of His promises.

The Epistle. Rom. vi. 3.

NOW ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him; knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once; but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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The Gospel. St. Matth. v. 20.

ESUS said unto his disciples, Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of heaven. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill: and whosoever shall kill, shall be in danthat whosoever

of the judgement. But I say unto you,

THE EPISTLE.-Disposed as men are to escape from the spiritual representations of the Gospel, this apostolic exposition of the doctrine of baptism calls for frequent and earnest contemplation. By both the sacraments which Christ instituted, He brings His people into communion with Him through making them conformable unto His death. He suffered for us, but we, by faith, suffered