on the Sunday beforehand of any of these festivals which may occur in the week. And the omission of this notice is by the 64th Canon made an offence punishable by ecclesiastical censure. When the day comes the Church is ready with her special services appointed for most of these days, or at least, but chiefest of all, with the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist. So it is ordered by the 13th Canon, "all manner of persons within the Church of England shall celebrate and keep" not only Sundays but "other holy days according to God's will and pleasure, and the orders of the Church," which it goes on to explain is "in hearing the Word of GOD," and "in private and public Prayer," in "acknowledging their offences to GOD, and amendment of the same," in

reconciling themselves charitably to their neighbours," and in "oftentimes receiving the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ," in "visiting the poor and sick," in "using all godly and sober conversation."

Such is the mind and will, and such

in part are the directions and rules of the Church of which we all profess to be members. How any can justify their deliberate contempt for, and careless neglect of them, it is hard to imagine. Some may say that they are hindered by their worldly occupations, or their home duties. And if they are really hindered, it is a sufficient reason. But probably it is the want of will, and not the want of a way, which hinders most people. Alas, we are all too much tempted to seek ourselves first and the kingdom of GOD and His righteousness afterwards. A little sneer, or a little ridicule, or a little persecution, even when they have leisure to go, soon takes the place of overoccupation with some, and stands as an inexcusable excuse to their own consciences, but not with GOD. But indeed we are not acting honestly to our Church in neglecting Saints' Days. We receive all the outward privileges of Church membership, and we neglect to conform to the rules of the Church of which we are members.

III.-On our Blessed Lord as the Source of

Sanctity.

EPH. i. 22, 23.-" The Head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all."

LET us remember that we are one with all those who, from the beginning, have died "the death of the righteous." Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Saints, Martyrs, Virgins, Confessors, and the innumerable hosts of Angels together with us constitute that vast mystical body which is the Church of Him "of Whom the whole family in Heaven and Earth is named." Already have we been added to the Church of the firstborn which are written in heaven, and to the spirits of "just men made perfect;" and to the Angels who fell not from their "first estate." Our daily prayer is to be "numbered" with the "Saints in glory everlasting," while from time to time, as each body of our brethren is committed to the ground, again we beseech GOD that He would be pleased to hasten His kingdom, that so we may be together with them. Yet

what strange inconsistency there is between the prayers and practice of those who will not for a few short hours hold fellowship with those with whom they profess to desire to live for ever! What an utter contradiction it is that any who at one time should profess to believe the "Communion of Saints" should at another denounce Acts of Cominunion with them, as superstitious, or vain. Only let Saints' Days be put to the use for which the Church appointed them, and they become immediately a most acceptable service to GOD, Who has declared Himself to be glorified in the number of His Saints," and honoured by our thanks and praise. We must not rob GoD of the honour due unto His Name by neglecting Saints' Days, for it is His Name, and His Grace which in His Saints we magnify.

And if while our hearts are lifted to Him our memory dwells on those who were once our fellow-servants it will serve only to draw us the more closely to Him Who is the LORD and GOD of all. In the recollection of the stedfast faith and patient

endurance which our brethren's weakness was strengthened to bring forth, we shall ourselves gain confidence and trustfulness, and they will be to us a great cloud of witnesses, assuring us that the Crown of Glory may be won by even such as we are, that He who gave them strength is our GOD as well as their GOD to uphold, our FATHER as well as their FATHER to love, and in mercy to care for us; that His Grace is sufficient for us as it was for them, that His protection is around us, His mighty Arm under us, His Wings spread over us, His Salvation near us, so long as we strive manfully under CHRIST's Banner, resolved by His grace to cleave to Him, and follow Him, whether in shame, or suffering, or death, persuaded that He is "the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." Yes, indeed is He the same yesterday" to them, "to-day" for us, "for ever" for both them and us; His Mercy inexhaustible; His Truth never-failing, pledged to bring us into His inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in