The Fifth Sunday in Lent. (78.)

The Collect.

WE beseech thee, Almighty God, merci. fully to look upon thy people; that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle. Heb. ix. 11. (79.) CHRIST being come an high-priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands; that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves; but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh; how much more shall the blood of Christ, who, through the eternal Spirit, of fered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the Mediator of the new Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

So many must needs make clean work; of so little there could be left nothing: yea, there were "fragments" remaining. Perhaps some crumbs or crusts hardly to be discerned, much less gathered: nay, "twelve baskets full :" more remained than was first set down. Had they eaten nothing, it was a just iniracle, that so much should be left; had nothing remained, it was no less a miracle, that so many had eaten, and so many satisfied; but now, that so many bellies and so many baskets were filled, the miracle was doubled. O work of a boundless omnipotency! Bp. Hall.

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(78.) This is called Passion Sunday for now begins the commemoration of the passion of our Lord. The Epistle treats of the passion; the Gospel, of our Lord's being slandered by the bold malice of the Jews, who call him Samaritan, and tell him he hath a devil, which must needs be a part of his passion. Bp. Sparrow.

As the death of our blessed Saviour is the spring from whence all our hopes and confidences of happiness and mercy flow; and as the end of his sufferings is the benefit of wretched man; so the manner of those sufferings is likewise adapted to our good. And. if within these it be fit to comprehend, not the last black scene only, but those many antecedent passages of his life, in which he "endured the contradiction of sinners against himself;" the

The Gospel St. Johr. viii. 46. JESUS said, Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God, heareth God's words; ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well, that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil: but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine owr. glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil: Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing; it is my Father that honoureth me, of whom ye say, that he is your God: yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you; but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to

Gospel for this day may well deserve a place in our Liturgy. Thus the Church rises very gradually; in the historical part, from opprobrious language, and a malicious, but vain attempt upon his sacred life, to that violence, which was permitted to take effect; in the instructive part, from a pattern of reproached and spited innocence, to one of faithfulness to the very death, and resisting even unto blood" when God and duty call. This I conceive the great design of, this the proper method for, improving that Scripture read in our ears this day. Dean Stanhope.

(79.) From Christ's being the Mediator of the New Testament let us learn to address him as such, and cast ourselves upon his mediation; for he hath made an all-sufficient atonement, and obtained eternal redemption for us; so that "whatever we ask the Father in his name, he will give it us :" for he hath merited for us the grant of our petitions: the incense of his merits and intercession give value to our prayers, and render them an offering of a sweet smelling savour. Hence we find the Psaimist praying, that "his prayers might ascend as incense, and the lifting up of his hands as an evening sacrifice." (Psal. xeli. 2.) Accordingly our Church teaches us to conclude all our prayers with the merits and mediation of Christ, which alone can give them all their acceptance; and for that reason,

example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle. Phil. ii. 5.

LET this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men and

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; mercifully grant that we may both follow the saith the apostle, "Christ is entered into the holy place not made with hands, that is, into heaven itself, there to appear in the presence of God for us." (Heb. ix. 24.)

IS,

And therefore, lastly, to obtain the benefit of Christ's mediation, let us learn to fulfil the conditions of the new covenant, of which he is Mediator; that let us repent and believe the Gospel, without which all, that he hath done or said for us, will be of no avail: for God cannot be at peace with us, till we lay down our arms, and submit to him. If we regard iniquity in our hearts, he will not hear our prayers; neither will any intercession prevail, while we retain our sin. Let us then do our part, by repenting and turning from our evil ways; and then God will not be wanting on his part to give us grace here, and glory hereafter.

DR. HOLE.

(80.) Amongst the useful meditations suggested by the Gospel of the day, none appear more wor thy of notice than the following:

1. From Abraham's "seeing Christ's day, and rejoicing" at it at so great a distance; we may learn to double our joy, and to rejoice much more at a nearer view of him. He saw him only through a glass darkly, but we face to face;" he beheld him only in the promise, but we in the performance; his fare was veiled with types and shadows under the Law, which gave a very imperfect and obscure representation of him, but this veil is now taken off under the Gospel, and we behold him with open face; for he became desh and dwelt among us, and the glory of his divinity shone. through the mantle of his humanity.

2. From Christ's affirming himself to be before Abraham, let us learn to acknowledge and adore his divinity, who had a being before all time, and gave a being to all things in it. Dr. Hole.

himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things. in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus

(81.) This week, immediately preceding the feast of Easter, is more especially designed to fit us for that great solemnity; and, to that end, is to be spent in more than ordinary piety and devotion. It was anciently called, sometimes the Great Week, sometimes the Holy Week, because it hath a larger service than any other week; every day having a second service appointed for it, in which are rehearsed at large the sufferings of Christ, as they are described by the four evangelists; that by hearing and reading the history of his passion, we may be better prepared for the mystery of his resurrection; that, by his rising from the dead, we may be quickened to newness of life. This day, which begins this holy week, is called by the name of Palm-Sunday, being the day on which our Saviour entered Jerusalem, with great joy; some spreading their garments, others cutting down branches of palm, carrying them in their hands, and strewing them in the way, which hath been remembered with great solemnity. Dr. Hole.

In the missals this Sunday is called Palm-Sun day; and in many parts of England it still retains its ancient name. On this day, till the era of the Reformation, the people in solemn procession carried in their hands palms, or branches of some other tree, in commemoration of Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem five days before his death. The palms were then placed on the altar by the clerks, before the time of the celebration of the eucharist and numerous benedictory Collects were pronounced over them by the priest. Shepherd.

The Collect for the day puts us in mind of the tender love of God towards mankind, in sending his Son, not only to take upon him our flesh, but to suffer in it the death of the cross for our sins, to the intent, "that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility;" and thence teaches

Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (82.)

The Gospel. St. Matt. xxvii. 1. WHEN the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, who had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hauged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. (Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they

us to pray, "that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection."

The Epistle for the day presents us to this purpose with the highest and best pattern for our imitation, even the Son of God, who hath done and suffered all these great things for us.

This Gospel, with the rest that follow on each day of this holy week, gives us an ample account of the death and passion of our blessed Saviour, together with the many circumstances that went before, and came after it. Dr. Hole.

(82.) The good effects, which our Church proposes to herself from this portion of Scripture, we plainly learn, from the Collect for the day, to be humility and patience. The former is to be expressed by thinking no good office beneath us, whereby we may contribute to the relief of our brethren in their sufferings; the latter, by contentedness and constancy of mind, in submitting to our own. In order to excite and establish these good dispositions in us, the Son of God and Saviour of the world, is here set forth as our pattern. His love and condescension, for our example; that we, so far as the difference of circumstances will allow, may not grudge to do, as he has done before

took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value, and gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.) And Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the king of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then saith Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him never a word, insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore, when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judg ment-seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just mau ; for I have suffered many things this day

Great indeed is at once the necessity, and the encouragement we all have, to imitate the virtues, for which our Lord was so conspicuous: the necessity, because nothing less than a likeness to his excellencies can advance us to a likeness of that bliss, which rewarded them: the encouragement, because he is entered into heaven, not for himself, but us; the pledge of our immortality and glory, by our nature being already immortalized and glorified. Let us not then think any thing too much to do, or endure, for our duty, and the good of our souls; since where the "sufferings of Christ abound, his consolations will much more abound.” Let us read, and hear, and meditate on, the Scriptures commended to our thoughts this week, with minds disposed to form themselves upon the model here before us. Let us carefully observe the interest we have in them; and rest perfectly satisfied, that, by virtue of that union, which he in great humility hath been pleased to make, the sufferings and the rewards of Christ's human nature so far belong to us, and all mankind; that all, "who follow the example of his patience, shall" undoubtedly "be partakers of his resurrection." Which he, of his infinite mercy, grant, "who was dead and is alive again, and liveth for evermore, and hath the keys of death and hell.” Rev. i. 18. To whom with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, three persons and one God, be all honour and glory, power, praise and dominion, world without end. Amen.

Dean Stanhope.

in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

When Pilate

saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person see ye to it. Then answered

all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had Scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common-hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment ou him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; him they compelled to bear his cross. And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall; and when he had tasted thereof he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my

(83.) Amongst the various lessons to be drawn from this day's Gospel, a very important one regards the account given of Judas. From this we may learn,

1. To consider the mighty danger and dismal consequences of known and wilful sins, before it be too late to prevent or remedy them. The example of Judas may be serviceable in teaching us, that no consideration can be sufficient for the commission of a deliberate sin. And we may profit greatly by those fruitless pangs of remorse, which God reject

And sitting

vesture did they cast lots. down, they watched him there; and set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests, mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others, himself he cannot save: if he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him. now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And behold, the vail of the temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of saints which slept, arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the Centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. (83.)

ed, when he had been first rejected by the wilful obstinacy of Judas; if we will let the contemplation of them work in us a dread of that justice and in-dignation, which will not always be intreated, if we out stand the season of grace.

2. This instance should be a discouragement, as: against all temptations and deliberate offences in general, so more especially against covetousness.. It is not for nothing that our Lord hath given us. that very solemn warning, "Take heed and beware of covetousness." Luke xii 15. He knows

Monday before Easter. (84.)

For the Epistle. Isa. lxiii. 1. WHO is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine-fat? I have trodden the wine-press alone, and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury, and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury it upheld Ine. And I will tread down the people in

how apt this vice is above all others, to get within us; and how powerful to overthrow all regard for God and religion. And certainly it ought to add no small weight to this and other testimonies in Scripture, that the most detestable villainy, which was ever thought of under the sun, was owing to the force of this temptation: that the only instance of a despairing sinner, left upon record in the New Testament, is that of a treacherous and greedy Judas.

3. The example of Judas instructs us, what false measures those men go upon, who measure the truth and efficacy of their repentance by the inward agonies and sufferings of their own minds. As if God could never bring a sinner to heaven any other way, than by leading him through the regions of hell. It is true, indeed, no man repents truly without a very serious and afflicting concern for having offended. But, then, this must be an active and fruitful sorrow, such as produces a just displeasure against ourselves, an irreconcilable hatred of sin, vigorous resolutions, and a watchful care to avoid it for the future. And it is not a slight and superficial sorrow that will suffice for these purposes. But, be the degree of smart more or less, whatsoever worketh repentance (that is, effectually changes our spirit and behaviour) is, without doubt

mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. I will mention the loving kindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness towards the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them, according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: So he was their Saviour. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them in his love and in his pity he redeemed them, and he bare them and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled and vexed his Holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea, with the shepherd of his

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Epistle of this day consists of three parts: 1. The prophet describes a victorious deliverer returning from the slaughter of his own and God's enemies. 2. He breaks out into praise for all the wonderful mercies bestowed on his Church and people. 3. In the name of that people he earnestly applies to God in devout prayer. In the first of these parts, which seems chiefly to call for our meditation, the prophet introduces some person wondering at a surprising object which then presented itself. The matter of this wonder is a Conqueror returning bloody from battle of whom the following account is given by way of dialogue, and in answer to the questions, Who he is? and, Why so habited? That a mighty victory had been obtained, at the expense of much blood and slaughter, by the powerful, but single, arm of this mighty warrior: that, by this victory, a total rout was given to his adversaries at a time, when, if he had not engaged, no other was disposed, no other able, to have quelled the outrage and havoc they were making: and that the stained garments he then wore demonstrated the sharpness of the engagement; as his mien and manner of approach, denoted the invincible greatness of his strength.

By this description, there cannot, I conceive, be any reasonable doubt whether we be not now invit

Let no man, therefore, distract himself with vain and fantastical notions in this matter; but let us every one now so lament our past offences as to forsake and amend them. And "blessed are all they who" thus "mourn; for they shall" not fail to "be comforted." DEAN STANHOPE. (84.) The portion of Scripture appointed for the

that combat with the enemies of our souls, by which Christ brought salvation to mankind. For such was his conquest of sin, and death; when he wrested the prey out of the hands of Satan, and, as the apostle expresses it, "spoiled principalities and powers, triumphing over them in his cross."

Dean Stanhope.