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has received the promised rest and peace which the world cannot give nor take away. Grateful to God for such gracious manifestations of his goodness, it joins in the song of the angels, ascribing "Glory to God in the highest," who hath given peace to his faithful and believing followers.

The expression, "good will to men," follows in the angels' song the announcement of "peace.' Mercy is God's darling attribute; and never was it displayed in all its glory so fully, as in the mission of God's eternal Son. He who was with the Father before all worlds; He who was the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person; He who sat at the right hand of God, and with him received the homage of heaven's glorious hosts, descended to suffer and to die for sinful men. Observe the wondrous plan, emanating from the counsels of the Eternal, to free us from deserved punishment, and to bestow on us the riches of his grace! He who knew no sin, died, that sinners might live for ever. He who had legions of angels at his command, came meek and lowly, and was rejected, despised, and crucified. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend; but in this God shewed his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Remembering a love so wondrous, well may we exclaim,

our souls, magnify the Lord, and glorify and praise his holy name!"

None but the eternal Jehovah could have conceived so stupendous a miracle of mercy, as the Gospel mystery-none but he could have fulfilled it. Experiencing such a proof of the "good will" and love of our heavenly Father towards us, in that "he spared not his only-begotten Son, but freely gave him up to the death for us all," be it ours to manifest the value we entertain for God's unspeakable gift, by freely accepting Jesus, as he is offered to us in the Gospel. Sensible of our own unworthiness, let us flee to Him who can wash away all our guilt, who can raise us to the exalted rank and noble privilege of those who know God, as a reconciled God in Jesus, and who are enabled to bless his name and sing his praise, as their God and Father in heaven. Amen.

Now, may the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.

SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT.

Let us pray.

BLESSED LORD, who hast caused all holy Scripture to be written for our learning; grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of thy holy word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

O Lord, the whole earth is enriched by thy bounty, and every thing that lives depends upon thy sustaining hand. We desire at this time to praise thy great name, for the blessings we enjoy ; for life, and health, and all things. May thy goodness lead us to repentance for past sins, and to earnest entreaties, that thy grace may keep us for the future. May the exhibition of so much goodness on thy part, excite in us gratitude and love, which do thou, O God, enable us to manifest, in our earnest endeavours, through thy Holy Spirit, to

maintain a walk and conversation becoming the Gospel. Most especially we now thank thee, for the revelation of thy love to man in the life, doctrines, and death, of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Although men were despisers of thy laws, and lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, thou hast graciously encouraged them to return from darkness unto light. Turn thou us, O Lord. Draw us, and we shall run after thee. Lord, unto thee alone would we come. We accept thy gracious invitation. We adore thy free grace, and we bless thy holy name, for all thy goodness. May we be rejoiced over in heaven, as sons who were dead and are alive again, who were lost and are found. O Lord, increase our faith. O Lord, sanctify us. Like thy servant of old, may we give ourselves wholly to thee, and as at length he was permitted to dwell in the land of promise, and to share in its delights, so may we, through thy mercy in Jesus, after our pilgrimage here on earth is at an end, enjoy that heavenly Canaan, where thou ever reignest in glory ineffable. Hear us, O heavenly Father, for the sake of our blessed Saviour, who, while on earth, taught us thus to pray,

Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name: thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for

thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

THE SCRIPTURE.

The portion of Scripture, is in the Second Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, 5th chapter, from the 9th to the 21st verse.

"Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust, also, are made manifest in your consciences. For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God; or whether we be sober, it is for your cause, for the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead; and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore, henceforth know we no man after the flesh; yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and

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