LECTURE V.

THE LESSONS.

2 Timothy, iii. 16, 17.

ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS: THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE PERFECT, THOROUGHLY FURNISHED UNTO ALL GOOD WORKS.

THIS sentence of the Apostle contains a plain declaration that all Scripture is inspired-by which is meant, that it was all written under the immediate influence and superintendence of the Holy Spirit of God-consequently that every sentence, and every word, in the Bible, must be infallibly and divinely true.

It is of the first importance, my brethren, that this awful fact should ever be borne in mind. When we read the Bible, we should remember that GOD SPEAKS TO US-whatever He says, if we only think of this, we must and shall believe of

course.

This text of St. Paul is one good argument for what is called the Inspiration of the Scriptures. That almost all the books of the Bible contain à number of Prophecies is another argument equally strong, because the Spirit of God only could foresee and foretel future things. The expression "THUS SAITH THE LORD," which is to be found on almost every page of the Bible, is also another argument of the same kind; because if the books therein contained were not inspired, and yet positively asserted that Jehovah said this or that, they would be asserting a direct falsehood. The books therefore of the Old and New Testaments are inspired, and the declaration of St. Paul is evidently true, that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God" as such, it is all "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may become perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

I have already followed the Church in its daily service proceeding from the Exhortation to a confession of sins, and, after God's Absolution has been pronounced over all penitent sinners, advancing, after the Lord's Prayer the beginning and end of all our petitions, to praising our God in the wonderful language of the Psalms.

This service of Praise being for a time ended, we forthwith proceed to spiritual instruction; and

where can be found a more suitable fountain of heavenly wisdom and divine knowledge than in the Holy Scriptures themselves? Accordingly we then proceed to what are usually called “The Lessons"-the inspired Lessons for the day. To make a few observations on the course prescribed by the Church in the Lessons daily read, and indeed on the reading of Holy Scripture generally, will be the main design of the following discourse.

First, how careful the Church has been for the spiritual edification of its members in this particular may be seen in various ways. You will observe the Rubric directing the "audible voice" of the Minister, while he is to stand and "turn himself so as he may be best heard by all present"—while, by his announcing the chapter which he is about to read from the Old or the New Testament, those of the congregation, who are furnished with Bibles, may look for the Lessons, and so quicken their attention by reading them with the Minister. I need hardly have noticed this simple particular to you, my brethren, if it were not principally for the sake of shewing you how careful the Church has been in its provision for our soul's welfare. Before the Reformation in this country, the people were not suffered to read the Bible for themselves, and the portions of them usually read in the Church, strange and absurd as it may seem,

were generally read in an unknown tongue. Now we have the Scriptures methodically and audibly read to us in our own language,-we have the Old and the New Testaments in turn,—and we may, if we choose, previously look for the portions which are read. How great an inducement should this be to us to attend to the divine instruction thus conveyed in the Lessons, or reverently to listen to what is read, considering that it is the Word of God, the rule of our Faith and Practice, by which we shall be judged at the last day. Whensoever

any thing applies to our own case, whether it be instruction or correction, comfort or reproof, let us take particular care thereof, and treasure it up in honest hearts, endeavouring to conduct ourselves according to it in the conversation of our lives. Thus the public reading of God's Holy Word will become truly profitable, and we shall have reason to return God special thanks for every opportunity of hearing it—otherwise, it will only aggravate our sins, and increase our condemnation.

Secondly, you will find that the daily Lessons are chosen with the greatest method and order. It is indeed quite a mistake to suppose that any part of our Service, whether the Collects, or the Epistles, the Gospels, or the Lessons, are selected at random.

If people would only make use of

their eyes, by turning to the Calendar they would find the whole of the Old Testament read through in course once a year, and the New Testament three times. On Sundays, because a greater congregation is usually assembled, the most important and striking chapters from the Old Testament are read through in the course of the year. From Advent Sunday until near Lent, some particular chapters from Isaiah are appointed, as containing the clearest prophecies of Christ's Church. On Septuagesima Sunday, the approach to the solemn season of Lent, the book of Genesis is begun; because at Lent begins the time of penance and mortification to which Genesis suits best, as it treats of the original of our misery by the fall of Adam, and of God's severe judgment upon the world for sin; for which reason the book of Genesis has been assigned to the season of Lent from a very early period of the Church. Afterwards are read through parts of the other principal books as they come in order; while, for particular days, such as Easter-day, Whitsunday, and for Saint's days, peculiar and suitable proper Lessons are provided. For the second Lessons generally, as you are aware, the New Testament is appointed to be read; and we read the Gospels in the Morning, and the Epistles, which are all writings of inspired Apostles, in the Evening.