No.102.]

(Vol. IV.

THE PENNY

SU NDAY READER.

EDITED BY THE REV. I. E. N. MOLESWORTH,

RECTOR OF ST. MARTIN'S, CANTERBURY, AND ONE OF THE

SIX PREACHERS OF CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL.

ST. MARTIN'S CHURCH, CANTERBURY,

IN WHICH CHRISTIANITY WAS FIRST EMBRACED BY A

British King.

KINGS SHALL BE THY NURSING FATHERS, AND THEIR QUEENS THY NURSING MOTHERS.-Isaiah, ch. xlix. 23.

CANTERBURY:

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY,

AT THE OFFICE OF THE KENTISH OBSERVER,
TO BE HAD OF G. BARNES, KING'S ARMS LIBRARY;

LONDON AGENTS, MESSAS, RIVINGTONS, St. PAUL'S-CRUTCH-YARD.

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TO THE FRIENDS OF THE PENNY SUNDAY

READER.

The Editor, from personal considerations, had been inclined to discontinue the issue of the P.S R. in numbers, after 1836, and to publish a supplemental volume, on the order for Morning and Evening Prayer, which would he necessary to complete the work. But he is convinced that the truths he has to urge, are of great importance, especially in these times, and would never be read in a volume, as they would be in numbers. He has, therefore, postponed all considerations of personal convenience, to what he feels to be his duty to the Church, and has decided to continue, by God's blessing, the publication in WEEKLY numbers. The first article in each number for 1837, will treat of the Morning, and Evening Prayer. He begs to urge on the friends of the P. S. R. the necessity of co-operating with him, in this duty to their Church and countrymen, by promoting the circulation of it in numbers; for they may be assured, that in numbers, not only the poor, but also many of all classes, will read and feel the just claims of our Liturgy, and of religious truths, and duties generally, when they would not even look at the same claims in a volume, though advocated with tenfold ability.

No. 102.] THE PENNY SUNDAY READER. [Vol. IV.

December 11, 1835.-Third Sunday in Advent.

MORNING PRAYER-FIRST PROPER LESSON. Isaiah xxv.

EVENING PRAYER-FIRST PROPER LESSON. Isaiah xxvi.

As, on this day, the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel for the day, bring before us the messengers and ministers of God, who, in various ages, have been sent to prepare his way before the Lord Jesus, so the Lessons now assume a joyous and triumphant tone-open clearer revelations of the coming of the Redeemer, and dwell upon subjects suited to the character of those whose message is that of 'good tidings to all people." Mr. Wogan's remarks on the two Lessons so entirely harmonize with our views, that we shall transcribe the whole of his "preface," and add very few observations of our own.

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"Both these Lessons seem chiefly designed to exercise our meditations on the same subject, on which they were employed last week, namely, the second Advent of Christ, or his coming to judgment; but with an observable difference. Both the Proper Lessons for Sunday last, and likewise the Gospel, set before us the judgment day in all its terrors; and were therefore principally in

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tended to awaken our fears: to-day, our hopes and desires are entertained with the glorious prospect of the great blessings and advantages of Christ's second coming, and exhibiting a scene of infinite joy and triumph, to all that love his appearing.

"In the first Lesson for this morning, the Church is introduced as singing a hymn to the Messiah, wherein she celebrates both his justice and power, in punishing his enemies; his mercy and goodness, in saving his people, and giving them an absolute and complete victory over every adversary; over sin and error, sorrow and death. His appearance therefore at the last day she mentions, not as terrible, but as happy and joyful, expected and desired. Lo! this is our God! we have waited for him,' &c. (See ver. 9.)

"At his first coming in the flesh, this prophecy was indeed fulfilled according to the letter he then became visible to the eye; witness old Simeon's testimony, 'Mine eyes have seen thy salvation' and that of the Baptist, 'Behold the Lamb of God.' But it is no less true, that when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, 'every eye shall then see him ;' yea, all shall then see, and confess him to be God. Those, who in life believed not, shall see him, to their conviction and eternal confusion; those, who now believe, obey and love him, or, with the pious Job, console their sufferings with the assurance of an everlasting redemption from all their troubles, will then, with confidence, say to each other, yea, to those who afflicted them, and made no account of their labours, Lo! this is our God! We have waited for him, and he will save us. This is the Lord!

We have waited for him; we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.'

"Note. The Rev. Mr. Lowth, in his Commentary on Isaiah, seems to approve of the above interpretation, by his prefixing the following argument to the two chapters now before us :—

'Some parts of the last chapter having a relation to the end of the world, we may, without breaking in upon the connection of the prophecy, suppose the triumphant hymns in this, and the next chapter, principally to regard the same time, and to be of the same nature with those recorded in Rev. xi. 17. xv. 3. xix. 6.'

"Thus he: but had he adverted to the choice our excellent Church has made of these two chapters, for her Proper Lessons on this Sunday in Advent, he might, in deference to her judgment, and I am persuaded would, had he attended thereto, have more than barely supposed, that these two chapters had a principal regard to the second coming of Christ, and the end of the world. Her choice of them, at this season is, and should be, to all of her communion, the best comment. I often observe, and here take leave to attest, that I find the very appointments, which the Church hath made of her Proper Lessons, for the Sundays and great festivals, do give the best and clearest light to those parts of Scripture, which she has so chosen for Our instruction and meditation, throughout the year. And for want of a more careful attention to this, her wise choice, most of our commentators, whom I have yet seen, are very defective in their expositions, and often depart from her sense; as might be made appear in very many instances."