precations, the word " saying," as they have done in many similar cases, no difficulty had ever been started on the subject. Nothing is more common in divine poetry, than leaving out the word “ say ing;" in the second Psalm,-" The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,' Let us break their bonds asunder."- In the original, the word "saying" is left out; it is also left out in the version which is used in the Prayer-Book, but it is added in the Bible translation. Again, in the twenty-second Psalm, "All they that see me, laugh me to scorn; they shoot out their lips, and shake their heads, saying,' He trusted in God, that he would deliver him; let him deliver him, if he will have him." The word "saying" is not in the original, but it is wisely added, for the

information of the reader, both in the Prayer-Book, and in the Bible translation. This is a mode of composition usual in the Psalms: I forbear multiplying of instances; and shall only add, that if the same mode of ascertaining the meaning in the hundred and ninth Psalm, had been adopted in the end of the fourth verse, much mischief had been prevented; bad men had not been able to colour their dissent from the service with plausible reasons, and good men had never been the dupes of the enemies of the Church.

Many and many have been the endeavours of designing people to bring disgrace upon the Church, that the Church might itself fall into disrepute. They pile up objection upon objection, and scruple upon scruple—a heap of cyphers; voluminous as a cloud, but just as unsubstantial; it cannot abide the test of sober

argument, the sun of truth ariseth, and it vanishes away like the fabled castles of

romance.

Be it our care to use the form of sound words, which the Church has provided for us, to the glory of God, and the ultimate good of our souls. Let us gladly join in the mode of worship which it prescribes; let us repeat with pious hearts, and willing lips, those sentences which have excited the devotion, and elevated the hopes of myriads of Christians now with God; those sentences which have flowed from the hallowed tongues of saints, confessors, martyrs, and the apostles themselves. "Let the Word of God, and of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom, (as counselleth St. Paul,) teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns, and spiritual songs." Let that Word have a ready entrance into our

heart; that we may have understanding in all things necessary to salvation, and may finally be admitted, from worshipping in faith here on earth, to the beholding of God visibly, and living with, and praising him for evermore in heaven itself, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SERMON XIX.

ACTS xv. 21.

Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the Synagogues every Sabbath-day.

THAT HAT part of the Church service which calls for our attention at this time, is the Lessons, or the readings, out of the Holy Scriptures, which follow the Psalms appointed for each day. After praising God, and adoring the perfections of his nature (his attributes) in the ardent language of the Psalmist, our hearts are open to the impressions of divine grace, and we are prepared to hear his sacred word with efficacy, with benefit to our souls, when