riage vow are generally observed. Nor will I withhold the expression of my conviction that the same results uniformly proceed from the sacredness with which the duties of matrimony are discharged. Some of the countries on the continent, to name which would be invidious, have reaped the same holy fruits: whilst others, where no such religious motives operate, and where divorces are frequent, and that upon slight grounds, present the melancholy picture of a people addicted to libertinism, and found wanting in the scale of morality. But though we may thank GOD that in this happy land, breaches of the matrimonial vow of fidelity are of rare occurrence, yet, in other respects, we may safely give utterance to the words of warning and expostulation. "Husbands, love your wives," says St. Paul, "and be not bitter against them." True it is, that in the great Apostle's days, that bitterness was often occasioned by the union of parties, one of whom was an unbeliever; but though such a cause has now ceased to operate, yet in too many cases the same acerbity of spirit produces annoyance to " the weaker vessel," rendering what ought to be a state devoted to the interchange of mutual affections, a source of constant vexation, and, it may be, ultimately, of disgust. The only remedy in such distressing circumstances is, under the Grace of GoD, the cultivation of a mild and even temper, leading to forbearance on both sides, and eventually to a restoration of that mutual affection which has thus unhappily met with untoward interruption.

The submission due from the wife to the husband has been before noticed: the only other point, therefore, which requires to be mentioned, is that sobriety of dress and of demeanour, which St. Peter so beautifully and so earnestly recommends to the female

sex. The graces which adorn the mind are in every case more to be coveted than "outward adorning," and more especially is this the case in the married state; for if a wife seek to secure the affections of her husband by attention to external blandishments alone, her failure in attaining that desirable end can occasion no surprise. No it must be "the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible: even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of GoD of great price," which can alone produce an effect so ardently to be coveted; a spirit which renders the marriage yoke as lovely as it is easy, and gives a foretaste of that still more perfect bliss which can be enjoyed in the realms of eternal happiness alone.

The concluding rubric, as I have before remarked, declares that "it is convenient that the new married persons should receive the Holy Communion at the time of their marriage"; and upon this head it will be proper to offer a few observations. In this recommendation the Church has manifested her usual moderation; since the practice is not universally enjoined, but left to the discretion of the parties either to adopt or to reject it. Considering, however, the mystical signification of holy matrimony, to which allusion is made, more than once, in the office before us, I cannot see how any one who has entered into the spirit of the service, and felt the impression intended to be left by it upon the parties joining in it, can hesitate cheerfully to comply with the recommendation of the Church. Certainly, the duty of communicating upon this occasion is imperative upon none, but they who adopt it in this instance, fully carry out the purpose of the Church, in recommending such a conclusion to so solemn a service. And even if the Laity depart from so godly

a rule, certainly the Clergy are bound to comply with it. Most desirable would it be to see all, but more especially the pastors of CHRIST's Church, thus celebrate their union by sealing it with that bond of communion with the Body of CHRIST, of which they are members, and of which the sacred obligations which they now contract are merely typical.

"But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that they that have wives be as though they had none." The most endearing bonds of time must be severed by the approach of eternity: true spiritual wisdom will therefore teach us not to rest content with the outward, though innocent gratifications of the married state, though contracted in the fear of God, but to look forward to that fearful day when both the motives with which we entered into holy matrimony, and the manner in which we shall have discharged its sacred duties, shall form a portion of that grand inquest to which we shall all be subjected before the Judgment Seat of CHRIST. And though in Heaven "they neither marry nor are given in marriage," yet we may humbly hope that similar feelings of affection, purified, indeed, of their earthly dross, and assimilated still more to the union between CHRIST and His Church, will, by the mercy of GOD, be there permitted to endure for ever. F. D. L.

1 1 Cor. vii. 29.

St. Matt. xxii. 30.

SERMON XVI.

INCIDENTAL NOTICES IN SCRIPTURE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

ST. LUKE XI. 27, 28.

IT CAME TO PASS, AS HE SAID THESE THINGS, A CERTAIN WOMAN OF THE COMPANY LIFTED UP HER VOICE, AND SAID UNTO HIM, "BLESSED IS THE WOMB THAT BARE THEE, AND THE PAPS WHICH THOU HAST SUCKED." BUT HE SAID, "YEA RATHER, BLESSED ARE THEY THAT HEAR THE WORD OF GOD, AND KEEP IT."

DEEPLY interesting and affecting as these words are; and, obvious to the most unlearned mind as is the great and simple truth therein contained, there is in them much more than meets the ear; and which can only be attained by a thoughtful consideration of the whole counsel of God; and by closely observing the incidental and apparently casual character of many of the sayings of our Blessed LORD.

And, first, we must ever carefully remember, that brief as is the record of HIM "Who spake as never man spake," not a word is there which is meant merely to serve a temporary purpose; and rarely a sentence in which there is not some deeper and more hidden

truth than that which lies upon the surface. This appears to me to be the case in the text: it is much to be doubted, whether our LORD's object in His reply to the woman, was not anticipative and corrective of an error which in His infinite wisdom and knowledge He foresaw would creep into His Church; and that He made use of the woman's outpouring of pious rapture, to convey a hint of solemn warning to all who should hereafter read or hear these words.

Our LORD had been reproving with severity, the blasphemous thoughts of those who imputed His miracles to Satanic agency, and showing convincingly that their folly was equal to their sin: and apparently with some reference to such an hardened state of heart and conscience, had spoken in parable of the danger of a besetting sin, and the extreme difficulty of overcoming evil habits, under the figure of an unclean spirit: when "a certain woman of the company," touched to the heart by the power and wisdom with which HE spake, "lifted up her voice," and exclaimed vehemently, "Blessed is the womb that bare THEE, and the paps which THOU hast sucked." Now, this was but the natural expression of one, who, through faith and love, saw in HIM something far different, far wiser and holier than other men: and the tone of reproof, however gentle, in our LORD's reply, would appear to us uncalled for, if that reply was meant to convey nothing more than the blessedness of those "who hear the Word of God and keep it."

But there is great reason to believe, by comparing this passage with the parallel passage of St. Matthew, and with a passage in the eighth chapter of St. Luke, that our LORD's chief purpose in His reply was to repress at once the very first intimation of a feeling